Trackside Talk: Life as a Senior Technical Analyst (ft Rachel Lavery)

The 2024 Formula One World Championship saw McLaren Racing beat all the odds and win the World Constructors Championship — a feat they last achieved in 1998.

It is a story that reflects the legacy of its founder, Bruce McLaren, who created the team in 1963 and forged it in his image. He only had one strict criteria on whom he wanted to surround himself with: dreamers, for whom racing was their whole life. 

Through the years, McLaren drivers have graced the top step of the podium at some of the most famous motorsport races in the world — from the Can-Am Series, the Indy 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Formula 1 World Championship and more recently, Formula E and F1 Sim Racing. 

Being part of such an eventful season will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience. We had the opportunity to chat with Rachel Lavery, a Senior Technical Analyst at McLaren Racing, who has been with the Woking-based outfit for approximately one and a half years, to learn more about her role and her experience throughout the 2024 season at the factory.

What sparked your interest in motorsports?

There wasn't a specific moment for me, as it was always on the telly in my home growing up, as my dad and older brothers were motorsport fans. 

Over the years, I became more of an avid fan once I started actually understanding the technicalities and strategy involved in the sport. This started when my brother and I would race toy cars around the house as kids and create the many different colour-coded flag systems with our crayons. I remember my brain hurting a lot that day, but it marked the beginning of my love for the sport!

As a teenager, my interest solidified when I started being more intentional with watching my first F1 season, the iconic 2016 F1 World Championship. During this time, I also started watching some races back from the '70s, 80s and '90s, which are now some of my favourites. I also found a new creative outlet with painting F1 portraits and making an art account on Instagram, where a great and supportive community definitely cultivated my interest further.

McLaren is a name that has an immense legacy in F1. What drew you towards joining the team?

I think McLaren is the most iconic team in the sport (tied with Ferrari). 

Most of my favourite drivers drove for McLaren — think (Aryton) Senna, (Niki) Lauda, (Mika) Hakkinen, and (Kimi) Raikkonen. Their dominance and rivalries in the 80s and 90s, especially with the iconic MP4/4 (a car that won 15/16 races in the 1988 Formula 1 Season), truly made them one of my favourite teams. 

It's no surprise when I started my job search in motorsports; I knew that if I were ever to get into one, I'd want it to be McLaren.

How did you secure your role as a Senior Technical Analyst at McLaren Racing?

It had always been a dream of mine to work in the industry, but it was not one that I always specifically worked towards. I had planned to pursue it by getting my degree in mechanical engineering but, ironically, decided against it because I thought it would never happen.

I ended up doing an integrated master's in computer science. During my last year, I decided to apply to a bunch of my dream jobs to know I had given it a go—thinking none would lead anywhere. I had a job search saved on LinkedIn for all roles posted by every F1 team, which I would check daily during my breaks from my dissertation. 

When this role popped up, it sounded like a great fit. After several rounds of tests and interviews, I was offered the job!

How did you translate your experience with machine learning during your time in university to working with the Woking team?

Machine learning forms a huge part of data analysis.

My experience applying machine learning in various projects in university and my internships was crucial in understanding how to tackle various data problems in my role.

The most important skill I learned at university was how to think about and approach a problem rather than relying on memorising specifics for an exam, which I’ve found to be super helpful in my work life.

What is your day like as a Senior Technical Analyst?

I work across all our technology workstreams to support our technical partners by developing activations, technical storytelling, and new initiatives to onboard and activate new partners.  It means my days are never the same, which I love!

Some days, I will be doing technical work building solutions across different race team departments, such as pitstops, reliability, and sustainability. On other days, I will be working with our partners to integrate their technology into the team and with our partnerships team defining and profiling new technical partner categories.

Could you share a memorable moment from your career?

I have a few to mention, but the most memorable — and most recent one — was McLaren winning the constructors' championship. Seeing all our hard work this year pay off was really rewarding.

Going to the McLaren Technology Centre for the first time was also surreal since it is such an iconic building. You usually come in for your last interview, but this wasn't possible for me since I was hired during the tail end of COVID-19, so my first time in the office was actually my first day at the MTC. It was impressive and intimidating all at once — the entrance tunnels feel like you're boarding a spaceship! 

Lando's first win was equally a great moment. It was also the team's first win since 2021 and marked the start of our belief that we could contend for the championship this year. It was a long time coming, and the celebrations at the MTC are a fond memory.

Rachel holding the trophies right after McLaren driver Lando Norris claimed his victory in his F1 career at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix as he took full advantage of a timely Safety Car to pull away from his championship rival, Max Verstappen.

What were some of the challenges you faced in your role as a Senior Technical Analyst and how did you overcome them?

As F1 is such a high-stakes professional sport, it is naturally fast-paced and intense. Don't let that intimidate you however as it just comes with the job. As long as you keep a good work-life balance, it is manageable.

I suppose switching off from work is quite difficult, as you work on it all week and then watch it all weekend. Still, it's my dream, so I can't complain!

McLaren is known for its collaborative approach from the trackside and factory operations to optimise race day performance via their Mission Control setup. How important is this link between the Woking and trackside teams in maximising results?

During race weekends, our main data hub comes from Mission Control at the MTC. Its link with those working trackside is integral to our performance. 

For example, all decisions to pit the car come from Mission Control and are communicated back to the engineers on track. The time it takes to decide when to pit the car, communicate this decision to the drivers and pit crew, and make the right call on which tyre to go for can be as little as three seconds. 

Any delays can jeopardise our chances of taking advantage of opportunities. To avoid this, we have a super-speedy network and, more importantly, effective collaboration and communication between the trackside and Mission Control teams.

Formula One can be an intense sport. How does Mclaren safeguard the mental health of its employees?

Mental health is an important issue in all professions. Given the high intensity of a sport like F1, I am glad we are paying more attention to it.

At McLaren, we have mental health first aiders who are colleagues trained by mental health services to offer support. We also mark World Mental Health Day with events in the office.

Recently, we opened a new employee gym that runs a range of physical and mental well-being classes daily.

How does it feel to be a part of the team now that Mclaren won the Constructors Championship for the first time since 1998?

It's surreal to be a part of this moment, especially since it is my first full season with the team, which I don't take for granted. Coming into the team last year and watching it transform from midfielders to championship winners this year, for the first time in 26 years, has been incredible.

There were many highs and lows throughout the year, so we had to be careful not to get ahead of ourselves and not to lose hope. Our team principal, Andrea Stella, has constantly drilled this sentiment into us, keeping the team together and focused on winning the championship.

Although it wasn't good for the nerves going down to the very last lap in Abu Dhabi, I think that made our win feel even more rewarding and I'm so proud to have been a part of it.

What do you see your career trajectory to be?

I don't like to plan too far ahead because, as I've seen, you never know what the future holds. My short-term plan is to continue using and expanding my knowledge in my technical background to make F1 more data-intelligent. Machine learning and AI will especially be at a pivotal point in the upcoming years, as will the ethics involved in its usage.

The ambition for next year is to win the constructors championship again and hopefully the driver's championship this time too!

Quickfire Questions

Who is your favourite driver?

Kimi Raikkonen

What’s your favourite team?

Has to be McLaren Racing

Which track has been your favourite this season?

Japan

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This article was written by Hew Hoong Liang (Nathan) .

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