Nearly every Formula 1 squad has a full-sized junior team and academy programme right now, going down to go-karting in order to find the next great driving prospect. Off-track, a similar arms race is ramping up with burgeoning graduate programmes and apprenticeship schemes as teams look to replenish their staff pool with future talent.
Beating the other 10 teams to the brightest, most passionate young mechanics and engineers is one aim. The other is to replenish the crew travelling to most, if not all, of F1's demanding 24-race schedule before family life, or the desire for a change of pace or position, drives some of them back to a factory-based role or to a different business altogether.
