Calum Nicholas surprised Red Bull with "Life in the Pitlane" book

Gone are the days when Formula 1 mechanics were anonymous figures sweating in the garages. Social media has given these men and women a place to show their faces and their talents — and, in some cases, massive followings. Few built an audience as big as Calum Nicholas.

Better known as @f1mech on Instagram, where he has over 350,000 followers, Nicholas is a senior mechanic at Red Bull Racing. Or, he was, up until recently. For years, he’d been the Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician for the team, responsible for managing specs and logistics on anything that connects the engine into the chassis, like exhaust and cooling systems — as well as, for the past five years, the right rear wheel gunman on the pit crew. 

But as the world learned just last week — via an Instagram post, of course — Nicholas has a new job, as a Red Bull Racing ambassador. Which makes sense, given he needed to update his resumé anyways: his book, “Life in the Pitlane” had just published (available May 6 in the US).

Other mechanics have written books (see: Steve Matchett’s “The Mechanic’s Tale” and Marc Priestley’s “The Mechanic”), but Nicholas’ was written while he was still part of a crew changing Pirellis in under two seconds. So how did Red Bull Racing react when Nicholas revealed his plans? ”In short, better than I could have ever imagined,” he says.

”I remember talking to my partner and to my manager and saying: ‘Look, I really want to do this project, but there is a fair chance that Red Bull could turn around and say that I can’t do this and work here’,” Nicholas adds. ”And it was something I accepted when I took on the project. I feel really lucky because I can’t imagine getting away with this anywhere else.”

Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing.

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Did the team ask to read the book before it went to print?

I decided that I was going to do it, and then I was going to go to the team and say, ”I’m doing this and this is what it’s going to be.” And they asked me, “Would you mind if we read it before it was published?” I was so happy that they were being so supportive that I said, “There’s absolutely no problem with you reading it prior to publishing.” But that was after the final draft was done.

No issues were raised by the team after they read the final draft?

Absolutely none. My proviso of doing this project when I first took it on with the publisher was that I’d only do it if I could be honest. And I just had to hope that Red Bull would appreciate that. And no, there haven’t been any issues, as far as I’m aware.

What motivated you to write this book?

I have so many people message me on Instagram and Twitter asking me about careers in the sport. When it first started, I used to try and reply to all these messages. I really always try and make time to offer any advice I can to people that really love the sport. But as the following grew and the amount of messages grew, it became really hard to reply to all of these messages and give people the information they needed. So I thought that perhaps the book was an opportunity for me to offer this advice, and have it available to anyone.

And I felt it could be something that would last. One of the things that I found with social media is that we consume content at such a rate that it doesn’t last. I can’t really think of great content from three, four, or five years ago that makes me say, “Oh yeah, this was actually a really useful tool that people can still go back to.” I felt books still have that connection with people.

Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

You have over 350,000 followers on Instagram. In your book, you write that you saw a growth in followers during 2020. How did you feel about this unexpected increase in attention for you as a person?

At first, more than anything, I was surprised. As time went on and it started to build and build, I started to understand it. With things like “Drive to Survive” becoming so popular, I think it gave the public that little bit of insight that they didn’t have before, into the garages and the teams. They were looking for even more insight, and so I started to give people that. I started to talk about the job and the things that affected those working in the paddock. And that’s how the following grew.

When I think about it now, I just feel really grateful. When we’ve had a bad weekend and you get loads of people saying, “Come on, boys, you’re going to be alright next week” — that support, especially after you’ve achieved a lot under tough circumstances, means a great deal.

Some of the other mechanics and engineers also have large followings. Are you happy that there’s more attention nowadays for those working in the garages?

It’s always nice to know that the work that people do in the garage is appreciated. For me it’s just a part of the growth of the sport. As the sport grows, people want more insight. There’s some great people who have come through the ranks of the sport, and they’re offering insight that people simply didn’t have before. I think it’s a positive. It comes with its responsibilities, but it’s a really nice thing to be able to do.

Is there a danger in here as well, as some mechanics are maybe more in the limelight than others? Can it cause any friction in the garage?

I think there’s never been friction, really, in the garage. With anything you do with a group of people that you become so close to, they’re always going to give you stick about it. But I’ve never felt anyone has been anything but supportive.

Red Bull Racing mechanics with on the left Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

I don’t mind, you know, if people give me stick about stuff. I give them stick about stuff. That’s all fine! You might end up with a nickname like Hollywood or Influencer, or something like that. But other than that, no, it’s never caused any friction.

It’s not the case that anyone is trying to sort of take that limelight away or anything like that. It’s more like, as I expressed in my book, I want the public to know that all of the people I worked with, they’re the best at what they do. It really is a team sport. The constructors’ championship, it exists for a reason. It really is the case that you cannot succeed as an individual in a Formula 1 garage. You need all of the people around you. And it’s important to make sure that everybody knows that.

On X you responded to Sophia Flörsch, who commented on a Motorsport social post featuring a quote from Lewis Hamilton in which he said that, if he was to make a team, it would be diverse from the beginning. Your response was picked up by media. How conscious are you that what you say on social media can become a headline?

It’s something that has been happening for a while. Like I said, with that kind of publicity, you just have to accept that it does come with a responsibility. Ultimately, the team has had a lot of faith in me to allow me to do what I’ve been doing. And my responsibility to them is to ensure that I’m not out there bringing the team into disrepute. So while everybody’s happy for me to share honest opinions, I just accept that that comes with a responsibility.

And I don’t have a problem with journalists wanting to pick up on the things I say and spark a conversation about it. But it’s hard to not have a grievance when people try to create clickbait out of something that’s not. These people aren’t idiots. We all understand that using a certain picture or a snippet of a sentence is a way to get clicks on articles. And it’s frustrating.

But at the same time, I also accept that, unfortunately, that’s where we are. We’re in the world of the news cycle. So yeah, like I say, you just have to pay attention and think about what you’re saying and how you’re saying it, and try not to give people the opportunity to misconstrue what you mean.

Talking about social media and policies, you write in the book you haven’t signed and agreed to the team’s social media policy. Have you signed it now?

Not yet. [laughs] I will. I’ll get to it!

Max Verstappen and Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Max has always been very vocal about how demanding the F1 calendar is nowadays, especially for people like mechanics. You describe the 24-race calendar in your book as a great burden now that you are 35. Can you explain how demanding the calendar is for those working for the teams?

Yes, so I said it was a great burden in comparison to when I joined the sport. When I did my first full season in the paddock, I was 23. And back then, I would have happily done 24 or 25 races. I would have said: “Hey, bring it on!”

I have a young daughter now, and all of these things. When I was younger and didn’t have those responsibilities, the sacrifices I made in my personal life to go racing were just my sacrifices. But at some point, I had to accept those sacrifices were also being made by others around me — my partner and my daughter. For the last six years, they’ve both made huge sacrifices to allow me to do what I love.

How did you manage to combine the 24 race calendar with family life?

It’s really tough. Look, 24 races last year [added up to] 190-odd days that we were away, from the time you go to pre-season testing to getting back after the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi. It’s really tough.

I think that most of us with young families, the first thing we’ll probably say is having really understanding partners is key! I never let that question go without saying that, for sure. Because it’s the only way that it’s really possible.

Other than that, it’s an understanding that you’re doing it because you love it. If you’re a talented engineer, technician, or mechanic, you can make more money outside of racing. The people who stick it out, who are there in the paddock doing it year in and year out, they’re doing it because they love it.

And it’s a really hard thing to stop once you realize how great it can be. Once you fall in love with the sport, you’re in love with it and you accept that you’ll be making those sacrifices for a while.

Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

It’s a good thing that your book doesn’t fall under the International Sporting Code because I spotted the F-word a couple of times.

Well, I very much wanted to write the book the way that I am. I’m not going to get into the whole debate about profane language, but for me – yeah, I’m glad! I don’t think I’ll incur a fine! [laughs] The rules only mentioned speech; I don’t think they said anything about writing it down, so I should be fine. Maybe with the audiobook I can be in trouble! [more laughter]

How much swearing is there actually going on in the garage?

To be fair, we’re not bad! We’re really not! Like you don’t get people shouting and swearing in anger. If anything, it’s people giving each other grief and banter, things like that. So often when you hear people swearing, it’s with a smile on their face. I don’t know if that makes it better or worse!

Wait! Are the new rules affecting the garage as well? [laughs] Like, surely no one’s going to have to wear a microphone to monitor swearing! I don’t think that’s going to happen…

You also write about diversity and inclusion in your book. How much work do you think is still needed in Formula 1 on this front?

Firstly, I’d say that Formula 1 is a very small snapshot of motorsport as a whole. Certainly in the UK, my experience has actually been that Formula 1 tends to be a more diverse environment than many junior categories. As you expect, Formula 1 brings together a lot more people from all over the world than smaller series and junior categories do. So it’s not necessarily a Formula 1 issue. It’s an issue that affects Formula 1.

It’s the motorsport industry as a whole that needs to be looking at pathways and taking down barriers. And these barriers, they’re different for different people. There’s not a blanket way of solving everybody’s problems. It’s looking at sometimes very specific, very small things, a lot of which can be solved with things like money.

I’ve spoken before about the geographic barrier in UK motorsport. Most of the motorsport industry in the UK is concentrated in a specific region — often rural areas, and certainly not in our big cities. Meanwhile, the country’s ethnically diverse population tends to reside in big cities. This creates a barrier rooted in transport and geography. And these factors do have an impact, but realistically, they can be overcome with money.

Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Another key area is apprenticeships. I’m a huge advocate for apprenticeships and making them more accessible — not just for Formula 1 teams, but making those accessible throughout the pyramid of motorsport that we talk about when we talk about junior categories. I think this could have a significant impact, if we can find funding for things like that. I think that would help create more natural diversity.

In the book you mention taking on other challenges in motorsport like Le Mans, which you did twice before, but also WRC and Dakar. Are those in your future?

[It’s] like when drivers talk about the Triple Crown and things like this. I’ve always loved things like rally, and I loved my time in the WEC paddock. All of these things I look at as possibilities for the future. If I could choose one, it would be to do a Dakar. Physically, it would be an incredible challenge, and I’m sure I’d learn a whole new skillset by doing things like Dakar and rally.

As I said in the book, I have a policy of “Always say yes.” When there’s an opportunity to do something and learn something, I try and jump at it. It was something that was really useful for me early in my career. Whether that meant traveling long hours or sleeping in my car, I’d always try and make these things happen. While for the most part I’m past sleeping in the car [laughs], any new opportunity can always be exciting. So yeah, I never rule anything out.

Have you considered a career in broadcasting?

It’s certainly something I’ve considered. Right now, we are one foot in front of the other, and I’m really excited to see what 2025 holds. But yeah, like I said, I don’t rule anything out.

Are you getting used to being referred to not just as a Red Bull Racing team member, but also as a book author?

You know what? It’s really hard! I remember when we first announced the book to the public, my manager was saying to me: “You should change your bio to say ‘author.’” And I was like: “Oh God, it’s going to take a minute for it to sink in.”

Honestly, the other day, when I got the first physical copy of the final proof for myself, I sort of held it for a while and I was like: ‘Wow man, this is really cool! I started a project two years ago and now I’m an author!’ But it is still sinking in, I have to say.

“Life in the Pitlane: My Journey to the Heart of F1” by Calum Nicholas is available for pre-order on Amazon in hardback, audio, and eBook now.

Book cover of “Life in the Pitlane” by Red Bull Racing ambassador Calum Nicholas

Photo by: Piatkus