Book Review: How To Build a Car by Adrian Newey

I’ll start by saying this: I was never a huge car enthusiast. Growing up and even into my young adult years, cars just weren’t my thing (unless you count a bit of an impulse Tesla purchase at 19, but that’s a whole other story). I never really followed NASCAR, F1, or any kind of motor racing. My interest was more about the electric car revolution, keeping tabs on Tesla and that whole scene.

But then, one day about a year and a half ago, I stumbled down a YouTube rabbit hole of F1 crash compilations. Yeah, kind of a morbid way to get into it, but that’s how it started. Before I knew it, I was watching F1 highlight reels, behind-the-scenes clips, and eventually full races. And just like that, I was hooked. Turns out, the world of F1 is pretty incredible, and yes, I’ll admit I’m a huge Max Verstappen fan now.

That curiosity led me to the name Adrian Newey over and over again. The man is a legend in F1 engineering, and I kept hearing how his designs changed the game for multiple teams. So when I found out he had a book, How To Build a Car, basically a memoir of his career (my favorite type of book), I knew I had to dive in.

The book turned out to be a fascinating read, and honestly, something I didn’t know I was missing. It’s this really cool mix of behind-the-scenes storytelling and literal “here’s how you build a car” explanations, just like the title promises. Newey walks you through aerodynamics, gearboxes, and all the regulation hurdles they had to jump through, but he also weaves in his personal journey. 

You get a sense of how he fell in love with design as a kid, messing around with go-karts, working with his dad, and eventually navigating a career that spanned multiple racing circuits, from F1 to IndyCar and beyond. You get to see the personality of the individuals you’d never see on TV, like the engineers, designers, and owners. You get to see a version of behind the scenes that isn’t highlighted in Drive to Survive or other media. 

In the end, while the title might suggest it’s just a technical manual, it’s actually a window into the heart of the sport and the mind of a man who helped shape it. It’s got fantastic sketches, great references, and you walk away with a whole new appreciation for what goes into those cars zipping around the track.

How To Build a Car is absolutely a top-notch memoir. I’d definitely recommend it to any F1 fan, anyone who loves engineering, or just enjoys reading about people with fascinating backgrounds and innovative minds. It’s a great glimpse into the world behind the races and the remarkable people who build the machines that make it all happen.