Meet Aimée from the Netherlands, who has worked over 25 Formula 1 races as a server in the exclusive Paddock Club hospitality suite
Where are you from?
I’m from the Netherlands. I was born in Maastricht, but I live in Amsterdam.
What is your role and how long have you been doing it?
I work as a Server in the Paddock Club hospitality suite. I started working at Zandvoort in 2021, so the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix this month will be my fourth time. I stopped counting a while ago, but I’ve worked more than 25 races for sure. As for the rest of this season, I am planning to go to all of them!
Describe your typical race weekend
We usually start on Wednesday or Thursday. We mostly prepare everything for the weekend; cleaning everything, polishing glasses and setting up the bars and tables. We also have to make sure the kitchens and buffets are ready. These days are usually shorter than the days where the Paddock Club is open. During the weekend, our job mostly consists of serving the guests. For the girls this mostly means doing the drink service, and for the boys this consists of either doing food service, or helping in the kitchens or at the buffets. We usually start one or two hours before we open with the finishing touches, and then leave around one or two hours after the Paddock Club closes.
Any races you haven’t worked that you really want to?
I would love to work at the races in Baku and Austin. The timing for both of these didn’t work out in the past, so it would be nice to do them this year. Everyone is always super enthusiastic about Baku and Austin, so I would like to experience these races for myself!
How did you get your job?
I got the job through friends that were already doing it. The timing also worked well in 2021 with Zandvoort returning to the calendar after a long absence. They needed a lot of Dutch staff to work the race, and that’s how I got the opportunity.
I did have relevant work experience, working in restaurants and hospitality before. I would say that it’s definitely useful to have prior experience beforehand, but it shouldn’t stop you applying as you can learn it fairly quickly.
How long do you see yourself working in this job?
My plan is to finish this season. However, afterwards, I am not sure what I want. I graduated last year, and might want to find a job related to my studies, but for now, I still like this job.
What have you learned from working in Formula 1 that you think will be useful in your later career?
Doing this job has taught me a lot, both professionally and socially. First and foremost, I have learned a really good work ethic. Since the races take place all over the world, I have also had the opportunity to experience and learn about new cultures. Working with my multicultural team, at work and after hours, has also been very beneficial for my social skills.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
The people for sure. Since you see some of your colleagues more than you see your own family, you become really close. We are like a little family. You work together, you sleep in the same hotel, you travel together and you spend your days off together. Because of this, everyone becomes really close and I think that is also the reason why we all stick around so long in this job, because of the bonds we have made together.
Least favorite part of the job?
Traveling the world and working in Formula 1 can sound glamorous, but most people don’t realize how hard we work and how long our working days can be. Many of our tasks, such as cleaning ovens and trash bins, are definitely not easy.
Do you have any favorite F1 circuits or cities?
My favorite race and destination is definitely Montreal. I love the city and the people. It also helps that our hotel is in the middle of the city and we usually have some spare time to experience the city. Japan is another favorite. I love the country. The people are super friendly, and the food is really tasty. We also had time to do some sightseeing. I also love Zandvoort, because I’m Dutch and it’s nice to have so many locals in our suite. The vibes are also really good at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Do you get much free time during your F1 trips?
It depends on our flights. In Canada, for example, we often fly back on Monday evening. This gives us all of the day to do some sightseeing. Sometimes our return flight times are less convenient and we have to return early in the morning. It also depends on the track schedule. When the Paddock Club closes fairly early, like in Japan, we have some time to visit a restaurant in the evening. The same cannot be said for Mexico. The traffic is often so bad that we end up getting back to the hotel very late. I have also had the chance to extend my stay longer after the race, but this is not always possible.
Where do you normally stay on race weekend?
We usually stay in hotels on race weekend. They are mostly good, but some are always better than others! It’s always better to be closer to restaurants and nightlife, but this sometimes means a longer commute to the track. Montreal is best as our hotel is both downtown and close to the circuit. It’s always nice when the hotel has a bar, so we can share a few drinks after our shift, like in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Monaco.
READ MORE: My Formula 1 Job: Dan, Activation Manager
