Career

Interview with Máté Matuska, Performance Simulation Engineer at the Audi F1 Project

2026. 04. 20.

Máté Matuska is a vehicle engineering graduate from Győr who has followed an impressive and inspiring career path in just a few years. Starting out in the Formula Student team at Széchenyi István University, he made his way to the heart of Audi’s Formula 1 project. Today, he works as a performance simulation engineer at Audi Formula Racing GmbH in Neuburg. The company develops and manufactures the Audi F1 Power Unit. Máté supports the Audi Revolut F1 Team on race weekends by optimizing hybrid powertrain operation and energy management.

In this interview, he talks about his professional journey, experiences, the technical world behind Formula 1, life abroad, and what it takes to become a successful F1 engineer.

Audi Hungaria: Please introduce yourself briefly. How did your career start, and what path led you to the Audi F1 Project?

Máté Matuska: I come from Békés County and graduated in vehicle engineering at Széchenyi István University, where I completed my bachelor’s degree in Hungarian and my master’s degree in English. From my second year until graduation, I was involved in Formula Student for a total of five seasons. This experience fundamentally shaped my interests, mindset, and the way I think about vehicles, development, and racing.

I had already been interested in motorsport and Formula 1 before, but Formula Student was the real catalyst that made me realize this could be more than just a dream, it could be a realistic career path. Within the Arrabona Racing Team, I built the vehicle model and worked on performance simulation. In 2019, I also worked as an intern at the Department of Vehicle Development of the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Automotive Engineering, then during my master’s studies I joined Audi Hungaria’s vehicle development area, where I worked in the ride height team on multibody simulation.

In 2022, an opportunity came up in Austria at a small motorsport development company in Vienna, where we developed electric race cars. The main project was Pikes Peak, for which we developed three cars with serious aerodynamic packages and over 1,500 horsepower. I also had the chance to work on an electric NASCAR prototype. My main responsibility there was energy consumption. In addition, I worked as a race engineer in the European Rally Championship for half a season.

In July 2025, I finally joined the Audi Formula 1 project. Since then, I have been working as a performance simulation engineer in the power unit development department in Neuburg.

Audi Hungaria: How conscious was your career planning? Did you think you would make it to Formula 1 at such a young age?

Máté Matuska: It was always the goal. Already during Formula Student, I saw that many engineers make it into F1 from there, especially from UK universities, where people join teams at the age of 21 or 22. Sometimes I felt I might be a bit “late” at 30, but in the end everything worked out at exactly the right pace.

I built my career very consciously. First, I gained experience in vehicle development in the Hungarian automotive industry, then I got a taste of motorsport development and rally racing in Austria, and only after that did I apply seriously for F1 positions. Prior motorsport experience counts a lot, and I’m especially happy to work in an area I truly enjoy, close to real events through race support.

Audi Hungaria: What does your job look like at the Audi F1 Project? What exactly does performance simulation involve?

Máté Matuska: The core task of the performance simulation team is to analyze the car using simulations. Among other things, we examine how the car behaves on a given track, what lap times are achievable with different energy usage profiles, how hybrid operation can be optimized, and which parameters are the most critical under given conditions.

As race weekends approach, engineers from Audi Formula Racing GmbH who work on the power unit also join the race team. I work as a base engineer in Mission Control, which means I follow events remotely, work in the same time zone as the trackside team, but I’m not part of the traveling crew. As a simulation engineer, I also work on correlation, which helps us understand how close our simulations are to reality. We directly support the race team, listen to radio communications and driver feedback, and provide input during debriefs.

Friday is when our role is most critical: after the first two practice sessions, huge amounts of data arrive, and there is a very limited time window to optimize the setup for qualifying the next day.

Audi Hungaria: What is the team you work in like? How international is it, and how does collaboration across locations work?

Máté Matuska: Our team is extremely diverse. There are engineers from Audi’s previous motorsport projects such as Formula E, Le Mans, Dakar, and DTM, as well as a younger generation who, like me, have joined more recently.

Power unit development takes place in Neuburg, Germany, while the chassis and assembly are based in Hinwil, Switzerland. Professionally, the spectrum is also very broad, within the more than 400-strong Neuburg team, you’ll find internal combustion engine developers, battery specialists, and simulation experts. The goal, however, is to operate as a single unit.

Audi Hungaria: Is F1 engineering work comparable to a large corporate environment? How intense is the pace?

Máté Matuska: There are similarities, but it’s not exactly the same. F1 teams operate in a way that resembles large automotive companies, but they also require a higher degree of flexibility. Of course, we work in compliance with German labor laws, this is not a nonstop job, but flexibility is essential. Before Asian races, for example, I start adjusting to the time zone days in advance so that we can work in Mission Control in the same rhythm as the trackside team.

Based on my experience from Pikes Peak, US time zones are generally easier for me, as I’m more of a night owl. At the beginning of the season, it sometimes feels like there’s nothing in my head but Formula 1, but consciously switching off is crucial, otherwise the mental pressure becomes too high in the long run. I already experienced during Formula Student how deceptive constant momentum and flow can be, which is why it’s important to occasionally put work aside.

Audi Hungaria: How do you switch off with so much mental focus required?

Máté Matuska: I fence with an épée and ride a motorcycle. Both occupy my mind completely and help me disconnect. I also have a classic car that I brought over from Hungary, which I restore as a hobby.

Audi Hungaria: How did you experience your first race weekend, especially with the car scoring points right away?

Máté Matuska: It was definitely a special experience to see several years of development work come to life on the track. From a results perspective, the picture is more mixed. We were very happy that Gabi (editor’s note: Gabriel Bortoleto) scored points and showed good pace, perhaps even exceeding external expectations. What we were very unhappy about, however, was that Nico (editor’s note: Nico Hülkenberg) was unable to start the first race.

Audi Hungaria: What skills and attitude do you think are necessary to become a Formula 1 professional?

Máté Matuska: This is a complex question. Overall, technical expertise alone is not enough to get in or to succeed. It’s very important how well someone integrates into a team and how flexible they are.

If I think specifically about performance simulation, my interview involved a lot of theoretical questions: vehicle dynamics, powertrain-related topics, and even theoretical physics questions you would normally expect in an academic environment.

Foreign language skills are mandatory; without English, you simply can’t get by. This can vary somewhat depending on the team and location. It’s also worth aiming for internship positions early on, it makes it easier to secure a full-time role later. Relevant motorsport experience is an advantage, even in less high-profile disciplines.

Audi Hungaria: What do you see as the next major goal in your career?

Máté Matuska: I’m very happy in my current role, but that doesn’t mean I’m satisfied. I’m in the fortunate position that the goals of the Audi project align perfectly with my personal ambitions. I really want to be successful and win races with Audi. I want my work to contribute to making the car as fast as possible.

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