Formula 1 operates at the top level in every area – from engineering and design to logistics and marketing, each part of a team has to be at its best at all times, and that’s only made possible due to the inspiring employees and their wide range of backgrounds.
Everyone has a different story about how they made their way into the sport, so in the latest instalment of the My Untold Story series, we sit down with three inspiring individuals to discuss their backgrounds and their roles within F1.
Their stories demonstrate the importance of diversity in sparking continuous innovation and how this positively impacts not just the performance on track, but the overall fan experience and entertainment element.
Melissa Birk – Kick Sauber Junior Infrastructure Designer
Kick Sauber’s Melissa Birk explains her role as a Junior Infrastructure Designer and how her family contributed to her enthusiasm for motorsport. After an ADHD diagnosis at the age of 21, she also opens up about how she has learned to deal with it positively after early childhood struggles in school.
Clara Ghattas – Aston Martin Junior Composite Design Engineer
Clara Ghattas details her route into her current role as Junior Composite Design Engineer at Aston Martin after suffering several knockbacks as she sought out a role working in Formula 1. She also delves into her pride of being a Coptic Orthodox Egyptian.
Mark Chircop – Ferrari Software Analytics Manager
Mark Chircop explains the importance of his role as Software Analytics Manager at Ferrari, a position he never would have imagined holding in his “wildest dreams” after being hooked on motorsport as a child. He also describes the “pinch myself” moment he got a call from Ferrari, having been working at an investment bank in London.
.webp?ssl=1 "All the key moments from the 2026 Australian Grand Prix as Mercedes enjoy a perfect start and Oscar Piastri suffers shock pre-race exit")
