#IAMSTORIES | VOICES: Michelle Creighton
From training as a florist and tree surgeon to creating laminated parts that have gone into space, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team's Michelle Creighton took a path to working in our race team that was far from conventional.
Following in the footsteps of her father, Michelle initially trained as a florist and tree surgeon before making the switch into motorsport around 15 years ago.
Michelle would then join Team Silverstone in 2016 as a laminator, impressing sufficiently to earn an opportunity on the race team crew at the Abu Dhabi test the following year.
She joined the race team full-time in 2018 and is now Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team's Race Team Composite Technician.
In the latest episode of #IAMSTORIES | VOICES, Michelle explains the moment that sparked her love for motorsport.
"So, my story into Formula One was very different to the guys on the race team. I didn't spend years at college and university studying motorsport, and I didn't work my way up through the smaller categories.
"I came in as a production laminator, and my lamination boss could see that I had a bit more potential. There was a trim job going on the race team, and he put me forward for it.
"I went out to a test in Abu Dhabi. I fell in love, really, and managed to get the job. I've been on the race team for four years now. The sport is great because the cars are out on track, and it's all down to the drivers.
"However [for me], it's the build-up, it's the team, it's what you go through as a family, because you're at the track, week after week, with the same people, and you are a little family.
"And as much as the driver goes out to win a race or get on the podium, as a team, we've had to build the car for them and work together. So, to me, Formula One means a family in a team environment.
"My greatest moment following Formula One? I went to a race six years ago as a VIP guest of Pirelli.
"I can't remember whose garage I was above, but I remember watching the pitstops and thinking how phenomenal it was that this group of people could work together so fast, so seamlessly.
"I think that was the first race I'd ever been to, and that's what gave me the bug.
"The new era of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team [represents] such an iconic name. Most people see Aston Martin as the James Bond cars, amazing Le Mans cars, the GT cars, and it's such an iconic British brand.
"I think my hope for the future is that we keep the spirit of the small team, and we continue to succeed and grow."
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