When most people think of Formula 1, they think about superstar drivers. But drivers are no one without teams and their members. One of them is Pedro Redondo, Sauber’s Aero Surface Designer, who talked to Roksana Ćwik during F1’s summer break.
What was your route to be working in F1?
Since I set my target to become a F1 engineer, I tried to develop my skills in this direction. After a couple of years getting experience as CAD engineer in Spain, I moved to Jaguar Land Rover in UK to improve my English and also increase my experience. It is not easy to get a position in F1, but if you keep pushing and determined for this, the opportunity soon or later will come.
How does it feel to be working in Formula 1?
In a first moment I felt as a privileged person, but it is a job like another one. Everybody in the team loves what they are doing so you can really feel that you are part of a team of people who share with you the same target.
Was it demanding to adapt to the F1 environment?
Of course, the level of demand is bigger in F1, in an automotive company for example projects are around 3 years long, here in F1 with aero updates, new concepts, etc., in weeks or even days you can see something you design already fitted in the car in the next race. Also here everything changes so quickly that you need to keep yourself in the “wave” if you want to be competitive.
What is your exact title and what is your job?
I am Electronic Technical Engineer, but I never worked in the electronic field, when I was studying at the University I realised what I like is the design engineering so I put my efforts in this way. My current position is Aero Surface Designer, that consisting of design the aerodynamic surfaces of the car to run them in CFD and to become model parts to test them in the wind tunnel.
Since joining Sauber in 2014, which driver did you most enjoy working with?
As part of the Aerodynamic department in the factory at Hinwil, we do not really work directly with the drivers so I could not choose…
Who is more demanding – Peter Sauber or Monisha Kaltenborn?
The same as the question above, Monisha is more in contact with the Track Team or Head of departments, etc.. Anyways, her door is open for anyone in the factory.
Is it difficult to work so far away from home?
Sometimes you miss the family, friends, weather, food… For now it is really worth to miss these and be able to work and live my dream to be part of a F1 team. I can enjoy them when I am on holidays.
Could you share the funniest story that happened to you in F1?
Well, I can tell you one that happened to me during my interview. I came by plane that was delayed; right in the arrivals area a person was waiting for me who drove me to the factory for the interview with no stop and a bit rushed as we were half an hour delayed. Already at the factory I could heard low background music in all places, I was thinking “wow that’s cool”, In the middle of the interview I could recognise a song of a Spanish Heavy Metal band… I had my iPod still running! I apologised for this and they laughed. I thought I had screwed up everything just for this. I received a formal offer two days later.
