I really enjoyed this book, as it takes a slightly different approach than most of the other books I have read about the sport so far. Calum Nicholas dedicates a significant amount of his time to discussing the inequality in Formula 1, which I found very interesting and is such an important topic to address. Highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in life in the pitlane.

Life in the Pitlane is just the book I have been looking for. I am not a big fan of non-fiction and even more so autobiographies but when it comes to F1, I can make an exception. For me F1 is such an interesting sport with so many different aspects to it and it takes so many people to keep the sport running. This book gives you an insight into the life of a Red Bull F1 mechanic by the way of Calum Nicholas. You have probably seen his face if you know the sport due to him being a big social media personality due to his time on Drive to Survive. The book gives you an insight on his life to where he is now and his path to get to where he is now, which was a really interesting story. He also touches on his gripes with the sport and where F1 can do better to make the sport more inclusive for everyone of all genders and races which is something that I love. If I would have known about the sport and the opportunities that it provides I can definitely say my life would not be the same as it is now. All in all I love this book and will be recommending it to all my F1 friends. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: February 27, 2025

A great look beyond the glitz and into the technical side of F1. An inspiring memoir about Calum’s journey into motorsport. Loved the behind the scenes—from in depth explanations about pit stops to hot takes on some rules and regulations.

I filed away my feelings about the 2021 season and let myself enjoy the tales from the Red Bull garage. Really enjoyed his insider’s take on the complex intricacies of the cost cap. It was fascinating to see how many of the cost cap regulations actually cause teams to spend more money and force them to be wasteful, all while the FIA claims a goal to be net zero by 2030.

It was heartbreaking to hear Calum recount the weekend in Japan when Jules Bianchi had his ultimately fatal crash, and all the safety changes that came from it.

My only thumbs down came from the pranking antics in the Red Bull garage that made it sound like a frat house at times. In a book claiming to promote more diversity and inclusion in Motorsport, these types of behaviors are a bit off putting to some (esp women and other minorities who are used to being the target of jokes). Maybe it’s all fun and games, but it’s giving “good old boys” club.

5 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

As a huge fan of F1 I jumped at the opportunity to get this arc.

This was such a lovely deep dive into the life and world of one of the most cut throat sports. We typically get the run down from drivers and team leads but never really from the paddock crew members themselves, I loved being to read about certain instances that were huge in the world F1 from Callum’s point of view.

Getting to see Callum’s backstory and his journey to Red Bull is truly inspiring. The book itself is really well written and genuinely feels like you’re just sitting down with someone at a bar and letting them tell you their life story. If you’re a fan of F1 regardless of who your favourite team is, I think you’d love this book. The deep dives and behind the scenes that wouldn’t be in Drive To Survive are what make it so charming and enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mobius Books for this ARC e-copy of Life in the Pitlane by Calum Nicholas.

This memoir—by Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician at Red Bull Racing, Calum Nicholas, who readers might recognize from Netflix’s Drive to Survive and from Formula 1 race weekends in general—is a flat-out encouragement of careers in engineering and motorsport, and exactly what Nicholas wanted it to be, which is the guide he needed growing up.

As a Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen fan, I absolutely loved this inside look into the team’s Formula 1 garage, and how their most famous mechanic’s career led him to the job and the team’s subsequent WCC titles. Some of the best stories in this book involve practical jokes and wild nights out, all of which are laugh out loud hilarious and show how these hard-working pit crew individuals add some levity to their demanding jobs. Also enlightening are Nicholas’s insights into the discrimination he and others have faced in the sport, and how he is doing what he can from within to combat it, and also how he is encouraging a more diversified workplace through bettering awareness and education about engineering in minority communities.

I highly recommend this book to Formula 1 fans, but especially for young folks who are looking to start a career in motorsport. Calum Nicholas’s advice—and the advice he shares from his own mentors—is invaluable, and I am more than certain that this memoir will encourage and assist young mechanics and engineers when it comes to pursuing a future career in Formula 1.


☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - EXCELLENT

As someone who loves F1 and watches Drive to Survive, I immediately knew who Calum was. I was excited to see another book of someone who has experience working in the paddock. This part biography part informative book gives you best of both worlds. Love getting Calum’s experience as a Black man in the elite racing world along with advice. Overall well written and fun read!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Life in the Pitlane by Calum Nicholas offers a rare and compelling glimpse into the high-pressure world of Formula 1 from a mechanic’s perspective. Nicholas delivers his experiences with authenticity and wit, making the technical side of racing feel deeply human and accessible. It's a must-read for motorsport fans craving a behind-the-scenes look beyond the glitz of the grid.