The 2024 F1 silly season has seen more than just the movement in the driver market. There has been significant movement in the technical talent market as well, with engineers shifting between teams or leaving the sport entirely. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has now provided insights into why this is happening in the sport.
Horner pointed out that many engineers are moving to other industries, stating, “There is more money there for a less stressful life.” According to the Red Bull team boss, a major factor contributing to this trend is the budget cap introduced in F1 as per a report from Auto Motor und Sport shared by Junaid Samodien on X.
Teams operating below the cost cap limit can offer better salaries or more attractive positions to lure talent from other teams. A perfect example of this happening is when Red Bull couldn’t retain Rob Marshall, who went to McLaren due to a better offer and role.
However, Horner warned that this situation may eventually reach a saturation point as teams will start hitting their budget cap sooner rather than later. Horner’s concerns extend beyond just the budget cap. The Briton also highlights a shift in the work culture among younger engineers.
AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT – According to many team bosses, the strong fluctuation in technical circles is a result of the budget cap. Teams at the bottom of the cost limit still have room for improvement and can advertise with better salaries or attractive positions.
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— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) July 15, 2024
As Horner explained, there’s a noted decrease in “motorsport nerds,” and many new engineers are seeking more flexible working conditions, including shorter work weeks and increased home office opportunities, which ultimately leads to poor on-track results in a sport as competitive as Formula 1.
Horner predicts the future of F1 if things don’t change
Looking to the future, Horner suggests that the current situation will lead to shrinking team sizes in Formula 1. Teams might opt for smaller, more focused groups of highly talented individuals.
This is also a result of the fact that universities are no longer a guaranteed source of talent for F1 teams, suggesting a potential shortage in the pipeline of new engineering talent entering the sport.
Formula 1 will be trialing a new artificial intelligence program this weekend.
The “Computer Vision” technology will identify track limit breaches and reduce human workload.
Here’s how it works
Technology in sports is nothing new.
Every NFL football has been implanted with… pic.twitter.com/HtoiS7FuYN
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) November 24, 2023
Another factor that is starting to play a role in depleting the workforce in F1 is the unprecedented rise of generative Artificial Intelligence technologies. AI is already starting to replace humans for some tasks, particularly at the lower end of the pay scale.
