Jason Zide
Jason studies Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southern California and has gained significant engineering experience having worked as Team Captain of a Formula SAE team. He is familiar with the INFINITI family having completed work experience with the premium auto brand at its North American Technical Center. He's one of two American students in this year's program and has been drafted into the transmission team at INFINITI Red Bull Racing.
Q1: Why did you apply for the INFINITI Performance Engineering Academy in the first place?
Zide: I had always dreamed of working in Formula One, and it always seemed so far away. When I heard about the INFINITI Performance Engineering Academy, it was the first time opportunity I had seen to help get me to close, so I jumped on the opportunity in the hope of getting into F1!
Q2: How did it feel when you were chosen for the INFINITI Performance Engineering Academy, and what was the first day like?
Zide: I was a bit shocked. I have been told countless times that the video of my reaction looks very unanimated as if I wasn't excited, but in reality I was a bit in awe about the whole thing and the realization of it all just hadn't hit me yet.
Day one was very exciting. We were introduced to the team we would be working with, and almost immediately began training after the routine inductions. It was a very steep learning curve from that day.
Q3: Have you had any difficulties settling in?
Zide: I think just getting up to speed was a bit of a challenge. Everyone here is an incredible engineer and extremely talented and experienced, so it is all a bit overwhelming at the beginning to learn everything. But I would like to think I've acclimatized to it now and have started playing an integral part of things.
Q4: What area(s) have you worked in at the team?
Zide: I have been working within the transmission design group since I started in September. However, over the past two weeks, I have been helping out Composite Design before the car build.
Q5: What has been the major highlight of your time within INFINITI Red Bull Racing so far?
Zide: I would say there have been two major highlights for me. It has been extremely rewarding to contribute to the new car. In the four months I've been here, I've already created over 65 parts that will be on the new RB11 car every two weeks racing all over the world, including some designs that have been entirely my own with the ability to develop them from the beginning. That has been very exciting and rewarding. But also, the amount that I have learned over these four months has been incredible. I have learned so much information about the technology, the engineering, the processes, the materials and everything that goes into the development of the car. A lot of the things I've learned, I remember wondering about when watching races on TV. And it has been great to learn all these things, and I continually learn more and get better every day.
Q6: Has there been anything surprising about working within the F1 team or the people you've worked with?
Zide: The design mentality is very different to anything I have experienced in the past. It is rare when someone says that you can't do something. Instead, everyone here makes sure that it can be done, in order to improve the car. That was not only surprising, but very interesting, because you get to be creative when it comes to designing components to make them as optimized as possible.
Q7: Has being on the program helped you to realize a future career path you'd like to follow?
Zide: Yes, it has reaffirmed my passion and interest in motorsports.
Q8: What advice would you give to those entering the academy in 2015?
Zide: I would suggest that they go into the academy with an open mind, try to take in and learn as much as possible. You will be working with some of the best engineers in the world, and you can constantly learn things if you're willing. Additionally, be prepared to work hard and long hours. Being a part of the academy is an incredible opportunity for a young engineer.
Q9: Finally, what's it been like living with your fellow graduates?
Zide: It's been great. We all get along well and haven't had much trouble. Living with a Brit has made acclimating to UK life much easier too.
William Priest
William studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Exeter and has gained significant engineering experience having worked at as a race engineer with the TH Motorsport British Touring Car team. He is familiar with INFINITI Red Bull Racing having spent two weeks working with the Formula One World Champions in the design department. The UK resident has been a part of the Composite Design team during his time in The Academy.
Q1: Why did you apply for the INFINITI Performance Engineering Academy in the first place?
Priest: After originally completing a work placement with INFINITI Red Bull Racing at the age of 16, I wanted to continue my career development within an exciting and successful team, alongside other INFINITI road going projects.
Q2: How did it feel when you were chosen for the INFINITI Performance Engineering Academy?
Zide: It was a great feeling. You could say I was very relieved to finally hear that we had secured a place after the stringent interview process.
Q3: Have you had any difficulties settling in?
Zide: INFINITI Red Bull Racing has been very good at quickly getting me up to speed with all the necessary training and information needed to settle into my job within Composite Design. Although it is a very steep learning curve, where you will either sink or swim.
Q4: What area(s) have you worked in within the team?
Zide: Currently I am within the Composite Design group, who are responsible for pretty much everything you see on the car in terms working out how it all goes together and materials used. I have worked closely with the Aerodynamics team and the guys around the factory to complete some very interesting projects.
Q5: What has been the major highlight of your time within INFINITI Red Bull Racing so far?
Zide: For me it has got to be being involved in the Operations Room at race weekends. As part of a huge behind the scenes team, you really feel like you are right in the action.
Q6: Has there been anything surprising about working within the F1 team or the people you've worked with?
Zide: The speed at which designs and parts are finalized and produced is incredible. Where normally project timescales in normal engineering companies are a few months/years, in Formula it is just a few days between races.
Q7: Has being on the program helped you to realize a future career path you'd like to follow?
Zide: I think I have learned a lot already, and it has definitely heightened my interest to continue my career within motorsport, albeit in some other sectors.
Q8: What advice would you give to those entering the program in 2015?
Zide: Be yourself and show how you stand out from the other candidates. Really show how your experience within your studies and extracurricular activities make you the man or woman for the job.
Q9: What's it been like living with your fellow graduates?
Zide: It's been great to live with two Americans this year, definitely brings some dynamic to the house!
Eric LaRoche
Eric studied Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland and has gained significant engineering experience having worked at Chrysler's Viper GTS-R team in the American Le Mans Series, as well as time working at aviation giant Boeing. He's one of two American students in the program this year and has specialized in Vehicle Dynamics.
Q1: Why did you apply for the INFINITI Performance Engineering Academy in the first place?
LaRoche: It seemed perfect. I've been passionate about motorsports that have a connection to the road in terms of technology transfer. Formula One hasn't been that too much over the past decade, but I see the regulation changes with the engines as a step forward in the direction of road relevance, and wishful thoughts are that this momentum will continue with a more open rule set. All this being said, the partnership between INFINITI and Red Bull Racing along with the essay question for the academy was a brilliant combination at the perfect time. It is exactly where I wanted to be.
Q2: How did it feel when you were chosen for the INFINITI Performance Engineering Academy and what was the first day like?
LaRoche: Overwhelmed. It seemed like anything was possible all of a sudden, like I got my big career break. The first day was a bit intimidating and nerve wracking, but it was easy to settle in with my managers. They outlined some of the ideas for the year, and it was all very exciting.
Q3: Have you had any difficulties settling in?
LaRoche: None. It's a culture of passion, and we all share it. Communication is excellent, and there is a lot of motivation to get your job done and get it done well. Everybody's here for the same reason, and I've been made to feel as valued as anybody else.
Q4: What area(s) have you worked in within the team?
LaRoche: Vehicle Dynamics, mainly based within the simulation subgroup, which provides a huge variety of work for me to begin with. However, I've assisted or worked with vehicle performance, simulation software/modeling, strategy and race engineering.
Q5: What has been the major highlight of your time within IRBR so far?
LaRoche: Honestly, I don't know. Everything has been fantastic and varied, from working with the drivers on ergonomics in the simulator, to helping the race engineers during the race from the Operations Room, to getting that first part that I designed back from the machine shop, to travelling overseas to work with INFINITI on a road car development initiative. I can't pick one.
Q6: Has there been anything surprising about working within the F1 team or the people you've worked with?
LaRoche: I'm surprised by the type of work that I'm doing, the variety of tasks that I have and the incredible humility throughout the company.
Q7: Has being on the program helped you to realize a future career path you'd like to follow?
LaRoche: Yes, and this is it. This is perfect.
Q8: What advice would you give to those entering the program in 2015?
LaRoche: Be yourself and show your passion. Take every last scrap of an opportunity to put yourself where you want to be, and leave it all out on the field. Know what you know, and more importantly, know what you don't know. Use that to improve yourself. This game is much more than being the single most clever individual; it's about being able to work with those around you who will likely have different strengths and weaknesses to yours to achieve a goal.
Q9: What's it been like living with your fellow graduates?
LaRoche: It's been great. We have our ups and downs, but we all are on the same page about the things that matter most, and we're all adventurous.
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