Nico Rosberg won his first Formula One world championship, then stunned his Mercedes team by promptly announcing he was retiring now that he had a view from the top.
So, what does Mercedes Formula 1 do now that they need to fill an important vacancy in their organisation with a fair degree of urgency?
They place a tounge-in-cheek advertisement in a motorsport magazine looking for a new driver.
The advertisement for a Race Driver includes a detailed job description, including the following: “Ideally, you will have a proven track record in skills including steering, braking and, in particular, accelerating. Possession of an FIA Super License will be an advantage.
Applicants are also asked to be strong communicators, in order to “give feedback on car set-up”, “identify strengths and weaknesses in our competitors” and “show extreme patience in the face of media attention”.
In order to attract a strong field of applicants, Mercedes talked up their organisation, pointing out that the position included a generous bonus, life insurance, private medical cover, and on-site gym and ‘subsidised restaurant facilities’.
Mercedes reportedly places advertisements in the magazine regularly for other vacant positions – such as aerodynamics machinist, service desk analyst and infrastructure team leader.
But any ambitious or prospective Formula One drivers looking for a once-in-a-lifetime employment opportunity will also notice the job advertisment doesn’t have a reply address, contact details for the organisation or a closing date for the position.
