Ignition Book Club: Adrian Newey - How to Build a Car
The Ignition Book Club is a weekly review of different books from the bookshelf in the Ignition Human Performance office. These books all have a common cross over, which is a focus on lessons from elite motorsports that can be translated into business performance. A lot of these books we use for our own research when putting together our Bespoke Learning and Development courses.
Each week, we will give a brief review on a book that we think provides insights into the strategies and techniques of top motorsports leaders, teams and drivers to achieve success. We will give a summary of the key takeaways and how they can help individuals and organisations to improve their performance and achieve their goals.
Then it is over to you, if you'd like to the read the book in question, we have put the link so you can purchase a copy below!
Please note that the below review is an overview and indeed our opinion, they are and is in no way endorsed by the individual or the team they are associated with. If you visit Amazon to purchase the below book, Ignition Human Performance is not responsible for content on 3rd party sites or indeed your choice to buy the book or not!
Ignition Book Club: Adrian Newey - How to Build a Car
The Ignition Book Club is a weekly review of different books from the bookshelf in the Ignition Human Performance office. These books all have a common cross over, which is a focus on lessons from elite motorsports that can be translated into business performance. A lot of these books we use for our own research when putting together our Bespoke Learning and Development courses.
Each week, we will give a brief review on a book that we think provides insights into the strategies and techniques of top motorsports leaders, teams and drivers to achieve success. We will give a summary of the key takeaways and how they can help individuals and organisations to improve their performance and achieve their goals.
Then it is over to you, if you'd like to the read the book in question, we have put the link so you can purchase a copy below!
Please note that the below review is an overview and indeed our opinion, they are and is in no way endorsed by the individual or the team they are associated with. If you visit Amazon to purchase the below book, Ignition Human Performance is not responsible for content on 3rd party sites or indeed your choice to buy the book or not!
A book review and summary of Adrian Newey - How to Build a Car
Adrian Newey's "How to Build a Car" is an autobiographical account of his career as a Formula One designer and engineer. The book provides a fascinating look into the world of motorsports, from the design and development of the cars themselves to the high-stakes world of competition.
Newey covers his career from his early days as an engineer at March Engineering, through his stints at Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull Racing. He provides insights into the design process and the engineering challenges faced by his teams, and also shares personal stories and anecdotes about his experiences working with some of the biggest names in the sport.
One of the key strengths of the book is Newey's ability to explain complex technical concepts in a way that is accessible to non-engineers. He breaks down the design and engineering principles behind the cars and the various components, and provides examples of how these concepts were put into practice in the cars he designed.
Another strength of the book is its personal approach. Newey shares his thoughts and feelings about his successes and failures, and provides insights into his relationships with drivers and team personnel. He also shares personal stories and anecdotes that provide a glimpse into the human side of the sport.
Overall, "How to Build a Car" is a captivating and informative read that will appeal to both motorsports fans and anyone interested in engineering and design. Newey's ability to explain technical concepts in an accessible way, combined with his personal stories and insights, make the book both educational and entertaining. It provides a unique behind-the-scenes look at the world of Formula One and the design and engineering process behind some of the most successful cars in the sport's history.
Formula 1 is a spectacle of speed, precision, and cutting-edge technology, a sport where engineering excellence and athletic prowess intersect on the world’s fastest stage. However, with the new Hollywood-backed Formula 1 film starring Brad Pitt and co-produced by Lewis Hamilton, some in the racing world are starting to wonder: Is F1 trading its elite, high-performance image for a more accessible, but oversimplified, Hollywood narrative?
Mark Blundell’s resume reads like a motorsport highlight reel—Formula 1, Le Mans, IndyCar. But his most strategic drive began after hanging up his helmet. Today, the former racing ace is steering MB Partners (MBP), a sports management and commercial agency that fuses the speed and strategy of motorsport with the pragmatism of business.
Speaking to Motorsport to Business, Blundell reveals how the lessons learned in pit lanes and paddocks have powered a decade of business success—and why the same mindset that wins championships can win clients, too.
Formula 1 is famous for speed, innovation, and ruthless competition. But according to Nicole Bearne, its greatest asset might be something more subtle: communication. As former Head of Internal Communications at Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1, Bearne spent over 25 years at the heart of one of sport’s most successful teams, steering messaging through seismic change—from underdog seasons to historic wins, leadership transitions, and even crisis management during economic collapse.
Speaking to Motorsport to Business, Bearne offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at how elite teams manage uncertainty, align under pressure, and keep cultures intact while the world watches.
As the dust settles on another fantastic Le Mans 24 Hours - what exactly can we learn from one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world and use to unlock your own personal or business performance?
Ignition's Nick Butcher caught up with former Race Strategist & now TV pundit Bernie Collins, to discuss her career and how she has translated the lessons she learnt from the pitwall into business performance and her new career.
Julien Simon-Chautemps, was most recently Kimi Räikkönen’s last Formula One Race Engineer.
Julien is a race and performance engineering specialist with over 22 years of experience in Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 and multiple other motorsport series. He has travelled to over 265 F1 Grand Prix, completing 14 seasons in F1 working for teams like Toyota, Caterham, Lotus, Renault and Alfa Romeo Sauber. During this time Julien worked closely with drivers like Marcus Ericsson, Romain Grosjean, Robert Kubica and Jolyon Palmer to name a few. In 2022 Julien has launched JSC7 Engineering ltd, a motorsport consultancy service that provides Julien's extensive expertise to clients wishing to engage specialist race engineering advice.
Mark Arnall is a world-renowned fitness expert with a career in F1 that has spanned 26 years. In that time, he has worked as performance coach for Mika Häkkinen (5 years), David Coulthard, Kimi Räikkönen (20 years) and most recently in 2022 Sebastian Vettel. During his career Mark has Aldo worked with legendary F1 teams McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus, Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin.
In recent years, the Formula 1 landscape has witnessed a notable shift in sponsorship trends, with an increasing number of online betting & gambling companies entering the scene. This growing presence of online bookmakers as sponsors for F1 teams has sparked discussions about the implications for the sport's image, financial dynamics, and the potential influence on its global fan base.
In 2004 the Red Bull Drinks Company purchased the Jaguar Racing Team for $1. The Jaguar team, who were owned at the time by the Ford Motor Company, had been in Formula 1 since 2000 after Ford purchased 3 time Formula 1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart’s Stewart Grand Prix team.
As part of our ethos "Watch on Sunday, Learning on Monday" here at Ignition Human Performance, we are always looking for ways to take the lessons you will see this weekend at the race track and look at how they can be translated into unlocking business or personal performance.
As part of our ethos "Watch on Sunday, Learning on Monday" here at Ignition Human Performance, we are always looking for ways to take the lessons you will see this weekend at the race track and look at how they can be translated into unlocking business or personal performance.
In the realm of Formula 1, where speed, precision, and strategy collide, Lewis Hamilton's decision to join the Ferrari team from 2025 onwards has sent shockwaves through the motorsport community.
In 2010, Mercedes-Benz made its return to Formula One as a Constructor for the first time since 1955 taking over the Brawn GP team. The German car manufacturer had been back in the sport involved as a engine provider, first with Sauber in 1993 and then as a 40% shareholder of McLaren from 1995.
Back in 1993 Ferrari were in the middle of a season which would bring them no wins. They also hadn't won a championship since 1979 so in a change of management they brought in Jean Todt, the Frenchman who had over seen a huge amount of success in sports cars and rallying with Peugeot throughout the 80s and early 90s.
Ignition Human Performance Managing Director Nick Butcher looks at 5 short case studies from the world of Formula One, with lessons that can help us unlock a High-Performance Culture, regardless of business industry.
The Ignition Book Club is a weekly review of different books from the bookshelf in the Ignition Human Performance office. These books all have a common cross over, which is a focus on lessons from elite motorsports that can be translated into business performance
The Ignition Book Club is a weekly review of different books from the bookshelf in the Ignition Human Performance office. These books all have a common cross over, which is a focus on lessons from elite motorsports that can be translated into business performance.
The Ignition Book Club is a weekly review of different books from the bookshelf in the Ignition Human Performance office. These books all have a common cross over, which is a focus on lessons from elite motorsports that can be translated into business performance.
With the announcement this week that Motorsport To Business® powered by Ignition Human Performance, would be rejoining MBP's Official Partner Network (having worked as a team partner to their BTCC team MB Motorsport the last two seasons), our Managing Director Nick Butcher met up with their CEO, former F1 Driver Mark Blundell, to reflect on the lessons he has learnt from a career in motorsport and business.
