How to Build a Car

The Autobiography of the World’s Greatest Formula 1 Designer

by Adrian Newey

Kindle Edition, 521 pages

English language

Published Nov. 1, 2017 by Harper Collins.

ASIN:: B073TS2ZWN
Goodreads:: 35819244

(13 reviews)

The world’s foremost designer in Formula One, Adrian Newey OBE is arguably one of Britain’s greatest engineers and this is his fascinating, powerful memoir.

How to Build a Car explores the story of Adrian’s unrivalled 35-year career in Formula One through the prism of the cars he has designed, the drivers he has worked alongside and the races in which he’s been involved.

The world’s foremost designer in Formula One, Adrian Newey OBE is arguably one of Britain’s greatest engineers and this is his fascinating, powerful memoir.

A true engineering genius, even in adolescence Adrian’s thoughts naturally emerged in shape and form – he began sketching his own car designs at the age of 12 and took a welding course in his school summer holidays. From his early career in IndyCar racing and on to his unparalleled success in Formula One, we learn in comprehensive, engaging and highly entertaining detail how a car actually works. Adrian has designed for the likes of Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, always with a shark-like purity of purpose: to make the car go faster. And while his career has been marked by unbelievable triumphs, there have also been deep tragedies; most notably Ayrton Senna’s death during his time at Williams in 1994.

Beautifully illustrated with never-before-seen drawings, How to Build a Car encapsulates, through Adrian’s remarkable life story, precisely what makes Formula One so thrilling – its potential for the total synchronicity of man and machine, the perfect combination of style, efficiency and speed.

4 editions

Sachin reviewed How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey

"How To Build A Car" is engaging.

4 stars

This book offers a fascinating mix of Adrian Newey's personal life, his accomplishments, his love for the drawing board, and different perspectives on racing, along with technical details of cars. Despite not having a strong background in car components and engineering, I was able to follow most of the technical details. However, if someone wants to read it solely for technical insights, I would not recommend it.

The book emphasizes the importance of aerodynamics in modern racing and F1 cars. It illustrates how regulation changes are introduced and enforced by the FIA, how teams adapt to these changes, and seek workarounds to enhance car performance, all while hoping that no other team comes up with better solutions the following year.

Additionally, it includes interesting stories, such as Newey’s experiences in American motorsports, Christian Horner getting picked up by bouncers, and Newey ruining Christian’s lawn.

Robert Rees reviewed How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey

Review of 'How to Build a Car' on 'LibraryThing'

3 stars

Snappily written and divided into car-based sections and then further into bite-sized chapters and by the ghost writer this is a very easy read. It's generally light tone varies appropriately at parts such as the death of Ayrton Senna or brief mentions of martial difficulties. The Formula One gossip is interesting without being too btichy. The engineering parts all seem to just boil down to aerodynamics and body shape.returnreturnThe layout and typography are really nicely done as well.