Christina Sullivan: “There are always going to be challenges to solve”

As a Wind Tunnel Electronics and Systems Engineer at Atlassian Williams Racing, Christina Sullivan works behind the scenes to contribute in pushing boundaries and developing the future of racing.

Coming from a family of engineers, Christina’s love for the subject runs in her blood. Growing up exposed to the world of STEM, she was encouraged by her parents to pursue her interest in maths and science from a very young age. Her curiosity for how things worked turned into a passion for technology, which led her to pursue a degree in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo in Canada.

“I didn’t really imagine myself working in Formula 1,” she tells Females in Motorsport. “I was actually set on going into special effects for filmmaking.”

But, thanks to a TV show, Christina discovered the thrill of motorsport.

“What really ignited my passion for F1,” she says, “was watching Drive to Survive on Netflix. Seeing all the behind-the-scenes action made the sport come alive for me.”

Soon she started watching the races with her family, which made it even more exciting. To her F1 became, as she puts it, “not just about fast cars but also the stories and the people involved”. Ultimately, it’s that shared excitement that led her to pursue a career in motorsport.

Christina first joined Atlassian Williams Racing as a student, working for a year as an industrial placement in the Aero Test Facilities team. 

“I was very fortunate to secure the role,” she says. “Being part of the wind tunnel team at Williams was a truly fascinating experience, and collaborating with such talented engineers and professionals across various departments in this unique environment only deepened my passion for Formula 1.” 

After her placement year, she returned to Canada to finish her degree, and was offered a full-time position in the same team upon graduation.

Christina Sullivan is a Wind Tunnel Electronics and Systems Engineer at Atlassian Williams Racing.

In her role as a Wind Tunnel Electronics and Systems Engineer, Christina’s main responsibility is developing and maintaining the Formula 1 wind tunnel model. 

“All the aerodynamic developments seen on the car during races are first tested on this model,” she explains. “Ensuring the data from the model – such as pressure, loads, deflections – is reliable and accurate is critical to making informed decisions that drive innovation in car design.

“Essentially, I do a lot of different things!”

From designing and fabricating electrical and electronic systems and components, to developing data acquisition systems, to debugging wind tunnel issues, Christina’s work is dedicated to improving the quality of the data coming from the wind tunnel tests.

Over the course of the season, the Aero Test Facilities team’s work progresses along with the evolution of the car, from early-stage development and validation of new parts, to performance refinement and troubleshooting. This work is largely driven by current F1 regulations and any changes introduced throughout the season.

“Regulations guide the aerodynamicists on key areas to focus their development efforts,” she says. “Based on their priorities, they communicate with us about how we can support those goals through testing and data collection.”

Christina doesn’t work directly with the race team, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t up-to-date on trackside achievements.

“We often get updates from Team Principal James Vowles and other leaders in the business,” she says. “It reminds us that whether we’re trackside or at the factory, we’re all contributing to the same mission.

“Hearing how our behind-the-scenes work is making a difference on race day is always encouraging. It reinforces that sense of team effort across the whole organisation.”

Working at a team like Williams, with such a rich F1 history and legacy, comes with a level of pressure. Christina, however, has learnt to turn that pressure into motivation.

“I try to approach it with perspective,” she says. “In my role, there are always going to be challenges to solve. That’s part of the job, and honestly, part of what makes it rewarding. I’ve learnt to expect problems, and even enjoy the process of working through them.

“In such a fast-paced environment it helps to stay grounded, and remember that at the end of the day, it’s a sport built to push boundaries and excite people.”

And pushing boundaries is exactly what Christina is doing, at the heart of vehicle development, shaping the future of racing.

To explore career opportunities with Atlassian Williams Racing, visit their careers website.

Image credits: Atlassian Williams Racing.