Xevi Pujolar, Head of trackside Engineering at Alfa Romeo speaks to Paddock Journal about his solution to System 1, his fundamental tasks on the workforce, his future targets, Max Verstappen and working.
Why did you select engineering and when did you determine to be taught Mechanical Engineering in Girona?
It’s all the time been clear to me that I need to be an engineer. I made up my thoughts on the age of six or seven. Initially, I used to be extra considering motorbikes, which comes from the truth that MotoGP could be very in style in Spain. I additionally wish to journey bikes myself. My dream was to race my bike, however that dream has by no means come true as a result of I didn’t have the funds. (Laughs)
Throughout my college years, my curiosity shifted to automobiles. I had the prospect to work for a go-kart workforce throughout my research and we have been combating for the European and World championships. Throughout this time, I labored along with drivers like Antonio Garcia and Fernando Alonso, who have been round 12 years previous. I keep in mind that I advised my professors and classmates that I need to work in motorsports and that’s what I’m considering. I used to be typically advised that this isn’t a correct job. Truly, it’s like a interest for me. That is what I take pleasure in doing most and I can earn cash with it.
May you inform us a bit about your background? Did anybody in your loved ones have any connection to motorsports?
All of them appreciated automobiles and bikes, however no one had a hyperlink or connection to any System 1 groups. My dad, my uncle and my grandpa had the identical ardour that I’ve. My cousin used to have a race workforce, so we share the identical ardour for racing.
I’m dwelling the dream, however I nonetheless need to enhance as an individual and construct my profession.
Xevi Pujolar
May you clarify to us your journey from karting and junior classes to F1?
It was fairly tough as a result of 30 years in the past there was no web, no cell phone, and many others. It was not simple to discover a contact for a System 1 workforce. For some purpose, I used to be satisfied that I may make it to F1. Once we received the karting championship, I knew that I’d want somebody to assist me get nearer to System 1. I began to work with a Spanish karting workforce, then I went to a French outfit, and I moved to Paris. I met somebody who labored in System 3000, and I obtained to know an individual who knew Helmut Marko. I labored for Marko within the decrease classes, and he gave me the prospect to work in System 1. It took me 8 years to achieve F1. Throughout these 8 years, I labored for a number of groups, and had the chance to work with skilled individuals. Certainly one of my nicest reminiscences is increase a System Nissan workforce from scratch in 1998–99, and we constructed a really aggressive automobile. Humorous sufficient, Fernando Alonso was our fundamental competitor.
May you elaborate in your present position at Alfa Romeo? How massive is your workforce?
I oversee the technical aspect of the race workforce. I work along with our engineers and mechanics trackside and the engineers who help us from the manufacturing unit throughout race weekends. Greater than 30 engineers are working remotely in the course of the race weekends.
I feel we’re fairly restricted within the variety of operations on the racetrack, I’ve 58 individuals there. The engineers are specialised in particular areas, like aerodynamics, automobile dynamics and tires. We have to put all the data collectively to get probably the most efficiency out of the automobile. We additionally want to assist our drivers and work along with them.
Can we are saying that being the top of trackside engineering is your dream job, otherwise you in search of to make the subsequent step in your profession?
I’m all the time keen to enhance and get increased up. What I like about this job is that you simply be taught one thing new daily. I’m dwelling the dream, however I nonetheless need to enhance as an individual and construct my profession. After I was a race engineer, I labored along with a couple of individuals and now I’m liable for a big group of individuals. The workforce is getting larger and greater, and it’s a fantastic problem to maintain extracting probably the most out of ourselves. For me, that’s probably the most difficult a part of the job and I take pleasure in it lots. We’re repeatedly rising as a corporation, and we have to make it possible for we’re all travelling in the identical route. You possibly can see that the sector is kind of tight, and the competitors is shut. For positive, everybody desires to win. We have to have the correct amount of pressure to carry out properly. Hopefully, we’ll have the ability to win the world championship right here at Sauber.
You possibly can’t anticipate everybody to behave and work in the identical approach.
You possibly can’t anticipate everybody to behave and work in the identical approach.
Xevi Pujolar
What’s the management type of Xevi Pujolar like?
It requires numerous power and information. There are individuals from totally different cultures and all of them have totally different characters. It is advisable to adapt your management type to totally different individuals and attempt to get probably the most out of them. You possibly can’t anticipate everybody to behave and work in the identical approach as a result of we’re all totally different, subsequently you all the time want to search out the best steadiness.
You labored with a number of drivers all through your profession. Is there a driver who stands out?
Sure, it’s Max Verstappen. It was actually particular to work with Max and it was clear to me that he’s world-champion materials.
What do you do in your free time? Evidently you want working, working quick…
Operating is a very great way for me to compete and set challenges for myself outdoors of System 1. If you happen to take a look at the variety of races we’ve these days, it’s important to maintain your self match and working is nice on your physique and your thoughts as properly. I are inclined to attend some working competitions as properly. I’ve achieved two races this 12 months and I plan to do one other two. After I see somebody faster than me, that makes me prepare even more durable and typically my spouse thinks I’m loopy. To be trustworthy, I have to have the self-discipline to keep away from overtraining. I’m not a superb loser. If you happen to lose, you continue to have to analyse your efficiency and see how one can enhance. All in all, I’ve a really aggressive character and doubtless that’s why I’m working on this enterprise.
It was actually particular to work with Max and it was clear to me that he’s world-champion materials.
Xevi Pujolar
What are the necessities one must get an engineering position in F1 and have a profession path like yours?
You want two issues: motivation and dedication. It is advisable to set a goal and work exhausting to attain it. Truly, it’s fairly just like working. You set the goal how briskly you need to run 10 kilometres and you could create a coaching plan for that. It is advisable to set the goal that you simply need to work on in System 1, and you could work in direction of that aim. The one distinction is that whenever you run, it’s all on you however whenever you’re in System 1, there’s a workforce round you and there are a number of components which might affect your efficiency. Issues come and go, and typically you would possibly end up within the incorrect place on the incorrect time. It’s vital to be affected person and the chance shall be there. I’m right here for 21 years, nonetheless working on the trackside workforce, which is very tough as a result of there are a restricted variety of positions accessible.
