Here's to being bold, brave and anything but ordinary. As we celebrate individuality in F1 together with our official fashion partner, BOSS, meet members of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team who are igniting the power within to unlock their full potential and push the boundaries.
Curtis Stones explains how being bold made him the youngest Chief Mechanic in the sport but how keeping things simple and trusting his crew has kept him at the top of his game...
I'm the man in the middle
"I head up the trackside team of mechanics who travel with us – the pit crew and the team members who build and operate the cars trackside. Effectively, I'm sitting in the middle of the organisation – at least that's how it feels! I've got the engineering teams above us trackside, the design teams at the AMR Technology Campus as well as the sub-assembly and production departments that supply the parts.
"Everyone's got their own individual requirements in terms of their departments and I'm the person who pulls each department's requirements together to deliver trackside. As the trackside mechanics, we're at the sharp end. We receive the product and we then have to deliver the final 'piece'. For me, it's about understanding each department's needs and trying to tick all the boxes for everyone."
Trust your team and be honest…
"You have to have the confidence to keep all of that going, but you've got to trust massively in each individual. They are all specialists in their individual areas. As the Chief Mechanic I've got a good understanding and I've got a good base of experience, but I don't know everything! So, for me, it's about trusting my team, having open and honest conversations, taking feedback, putting it all together and then actioning based on that feedback.
"I'm certainly not a tyrant and I'm open to listening to everyone's view or angle. There's no single way of executing a task. I always try to take the same approach and lead by example."
…but be bold
"When I stepped into the role five years ago, I was the youngest Chief Mechanic in the pitlane. It was a bold move to put my name forward for the job, but I felt like I had the support around me. I felt like I had the experience from my previous role.
"Do I have a lot of confidence? I love the sport. I've got passion for it and I think that's what makes me confident. I find F1 fascinating and because of that, I've managed to build a good base of experience. Ultimately, that's what gives me confidence. My passion and my love of the sport drive my confidence. That's what keeps me going."
F1 is extremely fast-paced... the rules change, the bar gets raised and the standard changes constantly, so you have to have an open mindset.
Stick to the facts and avoid the drama
"Although Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsport – an incredible spectacle, an incredible show – you can't let yourself get caught up in it all, you've got to stick to looking at the bare facts.
"When you say words like 'pinnacle', 'Formula One', 'the pointy end', that also brings words like 'pressure' and 'expectation', but dealing with that just means looking back at your experience, looking at the facts and using the science to make your decisions.
"Don't get caught up in all of the drama that surrounds those words and just keep looking back at your experience and use the facts. I think that's always the way I've been as a person."
Don't fear the unknown
"The key to pushing boundaries is keeping an open mindset. You always have to reflect on what went right and what went wrong, but you've got to keep an open mindset.
"F1 is extremely fast-paced, it's always changing. The rules change, the bar gets raised and the standard changes constantly, so you have to have an open mindset. Draw on your experience, but don't be afraid to listen to the feedback from those around you and take a step into the unknown.
"That fear, that unknown, that's where pressure comes from. And that's when you've just got to strip things back and look at the facts. Lean on people around you as well. Don't be afraid to ask for help. There's a whole bunch of experts around you, so use them."
Talented. Driven. Determined. Our people are what set us apart, boldly pushing progress at every turn.
Join us on our journey and bring your thing as we change the game on and off the track.
Challenging, rewarding, and anything but ordinary, unlock your full potential with a career at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team and ignite the power within.
Igniting the power within
Alysha Lane: The Garage Technician bossing her lane
Read Now
Michael Okeke: The Mechanical Design Engineer killing it with kindness
Read Now
Sam Nayler: The Electronics Production Manager breaking with tradition
Read Now
Eleanor Rajaratnam: The Aerodynamicist looking to continuously improve
Read NowIgnite The Power WithinIgnite The Power Within
Explore
I / AM membership
The ultimate fan experience.
Get closer to the team with unparalleled access, behind-the-scenes insights and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and enjoy exclusive competitions, rewards, offers and more.
