The Story of Dino Toso: A Formula 1 Engineering Legend

People who choose to study Automotive Engineering degrees are usually interested in working on new car designs, improving vehicles’ efficiency and safety, and making a difference in the way transportation influences our daily lives.

But did you know that Automotive Engineering can also lead to a career in Formula 1, which is one of the most exciting car racing sports in the world?

We’ll talk about Dino Toso, former Director of Aerodynamic Technology for the Renault F1 team. We believe his story is an example and inspiration for future Automotive Engineering students, and that’s why you deserve to know it.

Who is Dino Toso?

Dino studied a Bachelor’s in Automotive Engineering, followed by a Master’s degree in Aerodynamics. These studies helped him work initially as a race engineer for Jordan in Formula 1, and in 2003 he became the Chief Aerodynamicist for the Renault racing team.

Dino brought the “there’s no I in the word <<team>>” mentality at Renault. Although it sounds like a cliché, this statement is a living truth for every mechanic, engineer, or other members of an F1 racing team.

The driver is out there on the track, taking fast corners and overtaking opponents, but it takes an entire team to prepare the car for the driver and make sure everything works the way it should.

Luca Mazzocco, the Renault F1 Team head of technological partnerships, highlights the importance of human contribution better than anybody: “We can’t forget that technology is made by humans and it’s designed, deployed, implemented, and improved constantly by human beings.”

Renault’s success in 2005 and 2006

How Dino inspired change

In 2005, at the start of the Formula 1 season, top teams didn’t see Renault as a challenge. Ferrari was still incredibly dominant, and breaking their winning streak looked like an impossible task.

And then came Dino Toso. He believed that computer processing could be used for the development of an F1 car’s aerodynamics. Dino realised that the number of tests you can do in a wind tunnel was limited. But on a computer simulation, you can change the car’s design and elements faster and see what impact it has on the machine’s speed and behaviour.

Why is this data so important? According to Kayleigh Messer, the Renault F1 Team performance optimisation section leader: “Data gives you the truth. It doesn’t lie to you. It has all the answers of any questions you might ask it.”

In Engineering, hard work pays off

This new approach made Renault’s car incredibly competitive. After winning 4 or 5 races, the team started to believe that their dream was possible, that they could win both Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.

The most impressive thing about their success was the fact that despite being diagnosed with cancer in 2004, Dino was undergoing chemotherapy sessions and then he’d come back and work on the car with the team.

His commitment, ambition, and discipline inspired his teammates and helped them push together towards one of the most unexpected success stories in F1 history.

We are the champions!

At the end of the 2005 season, Renault was the Constructors’ Champion and their driver, Fernando Alonso, was the Drivers’ Champion, beating the legendary Michael Schumacher and earning the trophy for the best driver that year. It was an amazing success that involved a huge amount of hard work and dedication.

With Dino Toso still on board, Renault kept on pushing, and they repeated the 2005 success in 2006. The former underdog was now a champion feared by all the other racing teams. During the next two years, the French team never finished lower than third in the F1 championship.

In Dino’s memory

Dino left Renault in 2008 and lost the battle with cancer a few months later. This sad event affected numerous people in the industry who either worked directly with him or knew what kind of person he was.

Dino’s legacy remains untouched, and the team dedicated its Computational Aerodynamics Research Centre to him. This story shows us how the passion and involvement of a single person can create a ripple effect and influence an entire team, inspiring them to reach new heights.

Ready to start your Engineering journey?

Dino’s story even makes us wanna quit our jobs and give it a try! Or maybe not. Keyboards and Microsoft Word seem a lot easier than Physics and Aerodynamics principles. But that’s the secret. If you’re passionate about Engineering, Automotive or Aerospace degrees can lead you to careers you’ve never dreamed of.

If Formula One doesn’t do the trick for you, that’s fine. You can work in any other domain and have a positive impact. Perhaps you don’t like the current Tesla models and want to show Elon Musk how it’s done.

Maybe you think that the Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) project deserves another shot. Whatever it is you want to achieve, a degree in Automotive or Aerodynamics can be the foundation for your future success.