José Manuel Galán from Lanzarote will be in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team starting next June. Together with other Spaniards, he will travel to the United Kingdom to work in one of the most important engine factories in the world.
Galán studied Mechanical Engineering at the Carlos III University of Madrid, and became involved in a project called Formula Student, where competition single-seaters are developed to compete between universities.
After completing his undergraduate studies, he completed a master's degree in Motorsport Engineer, at the Motor & Sport Institute of Madrid, which are the facilities of the Teo Martín Motorsport team, which has a presence in competitions such as Formula 4 or Rallies.
“I started sending job applications to different Formula 1 teams, and Mercedes contacted me in January, and it has been made official that I start working on June 1,” explains the young engineer to La Voz.
José Manuel Galán recognizes that the Formula 1 fever, like most Spaniards, came to him with the irruption of Fernando Alonso at the beginning of this century, achieving the two world titles in 2005 and 2006. “It was a great inspiration, but I have never been as much a fan of a driver as I have been of engineering and teams,” he says.
Galán will work in the engine testing and validation department
“Being at least two years in a Formula 1 team is what makes you consolidated in the team,” says the young engineer, who will have to move to the Mercedes factory in the United Kingdom, specifically to the town of Brixworth, on the outskirts of the Silverstone circuit.
José Manuel Galán will work in the Mercedes engine factory, for the Mercedes – AMG Petronas Formula One Team, which has been the owner of the hybrid era, achieving seven world titles between 2014 and 2020. Six of them achieved by Lewis Hamilton, star of the German team today, who competes alongside the young Briton George Russell.
“I will work on the Mercedes engines. Regardless of the driver, we will develop the engines as best as possible,” says Galán. In addition, Mercedes engines are not only mounted by the German team itself, but are also used by the Mclaren, Aston Martin and Williams teams, so he will also work on optimizing those engines.
“I will be in the testing and validation department. It is the last part of the manufacture of an engine, where it is optimized and the best performance is sought. In this phase, we also look for the failures that they could have, the reliability, the engine-banks, etc. We take care that everything is in order to send the engines,” details Galán.
