Julien Simon-Chautemps is a distinguished race and performance engineer with more than two decades of experience at the forefront of international motorsport. Recognised for his technical precision and calm leadership under pressure, he has played a pivotal role in Formula 1, collaborating with world-class teams and elite drivers. Best known as the race engineer to Kimi Räikkönen during the latter stages of the former World Champion’s career, Julien became a trusted voice on the pit wall, responsible for extracting maximum performance from both car and driver in one of the most demanding environments in global sport.
Julien’s journey into motorsport was built on a rigorous academic foundation. He graduated from Institut Polytechnique des Sciences Avancées in Paris with a degree in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering, equipping him with deep expertise in aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics and systems engineering. He began his career with Prema Powerteam as a race engineer in the F3 Euroseries and Formula Renault 2.0, where he honed his craft in data analysis, set-up optimisation and driver development. His proven capability soon led him to Formula 1, where he worked with Toyota before contributing to programmes at Caterham, Lotus, Renault and Alfa Romeo Sauber. Across 14 seasons in Formula 1, Julien attended more than 265 Grands Prix, operating at the absolute pinnacle of technical and strategic competition.
Among his most notable achievements was serving as Kimi Räikkönen’s race engineer at Alfa Romeo Sauber, overseeing race strategy, tyre management, performance modelling and real-time decision-making. He was instrumental in delivering competitive results despite budgetary and technical constraints. Earlier, at Lotus, he supported Romain Grosjean’s development, reinforcing his reputation as an engineer who elevates driver performance. In 2022, he founded JSC7 Engineering Ltd, providing specialist consultancy to motorsport and automotive organisations. He is also a respected technical analyst for Canal+ and F1TV, offering expert commentary that translates complex engineering concepts into accessible insights for global audiences.
As a keynote speaker, Julien draws on the relentless intensity of Formula 1 to deliver compelling sessions on leadership, marginal gains, risk management and high-performance teamwork. He explains how split-second decisions, data-driven strategy and psychological trust determine success when the stakes are highest. Audiences value his ability to convert elite sporting experience into practical frameworks for corporate performance, helping organisations build resilient teams, optimise processes and perform consistently under pressure.
