Listen free for 30 days

  • How to Build a Car

  • Written by: Adrian Newey
  • Narrated by: Richard Trinder
  • Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (192 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
How to Build a Car cover art

How to Build a Car

Written by: Adrian Newey
Narrated by: Richard Trinder
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $23.22

Buy Now for $23.22

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

The world's foremost designer in Formula One, Adrian Newey OBE is arguably one of Britain's greatest engineers and this is his fascinating, powerful memoir.

How to Build a Car explores the story of Adrian's unrivalled 35-year career in Formula One through the prism of the cars he has designed, the drivers he has worked alongside and the races in which he's been involved.

A true engineering genius, even in adolescence Adrian's thoughts naturally emerged in shape and form - he began sketching his own car designs at the age of 12 and took a welding course in his school summer holidays. From his early career in IndyCar racing and on to his unparalleled success in Formula One, we learn in comprehensive, engaging and highly entertaining detail how a car actually works. Adrian has designed for the likes of Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, always with a shark-like purity of purpose: to make the car go faster. And while his career has been marked by unbelievable triumphs, there have also been deep tragedies: most notably Ayrton Senna's death during his time at Williams in 1994.

How to Build a Car encapsulates, through Adrian's remarkable life story, precisely what makes Formula One so thrilling - its potential for the total synchronicity of man and machine, the perfect combination of style, efficiency and speed.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 Adrian Newey (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

What the critics say

"The greatest Formula One designer of his - or any other - age." ( The Sunday Times)
"Newey has a legitimate claim on the title of 'Britain's greatest living engineer'." ( The Daily Telegraph)
"Adrian Newey has created more winners than all the super-brain computers in Formula One put together." ( The Times)

More from the same

What listeners say about How to Build a Car

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    173
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    141
  • 4 Stars
    23
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    150
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

memoirs of the greatest racing car designer

interesting, relatable content, even though it won't turn the reader into a championship-winning designer. the written words were good, but the narrator was clearly not from the racing world, as was made obvious occasionally with some pronunciations.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great technical and historical info!

What a great book for F1 fans! Newey gives a fascinating history of modern-day Formula 1 racing through his biography. Technical and very enjoyable. The narrator is also a joy to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book, sincere and humane

Wonderful voice act and amazing biographical story goes along in a wonderful flow. Ear&Brain candy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I’m a gear head and although I don’t know much about Formula One I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Newey mixes technical details with anecdotes from the races and personal stories to maintain your interest and he manages to not be a blowhard about his achievements although I wouldn’t call him humble. His stories about his drinking and anecdotes while drunk make me think he’s an alcoholic and needs to get help.
Excellent book, well read. I recommend it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Should be Mandatory reading for teenage boys

His amazing life, coupled with his ability to provide imagery of Aero and Mechanical details makes listening easy and enjoyable. Inspiring story that a quirky, class clown could become the greatest Race Car designer ever.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What an amazing life he has

Adrian can "see" aero dynamics and even make it interesting to the casual F1 fan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

For both newbies and die-hards alike

Informative and accessible, Adrian Newey's "How to Build a Car" is a thoughtful, introspective, and well paced dive in to both the professional and personal pressures of being one of the most influential figures in one of the world's most dramatic sports.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Masterpice

Once again, Adrian strikes with another masterpiece. Only this time, it's not a car or a boat. A real must read if you are interested in the technical side of race cars or just racing in general. A hard five stars.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing insight!

Loved it! Start to finish. Felt like part of the journey. Actually inspired by the deviation and hustle. Now I just need to save up for a Valkyrie 🤣

Wish Adrian would start a Formula 1 companion podcast of some sort.

I highhly recommend this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Superbly written and very interesting from a human point of view too.
Helps understand the high demanding F1 environment and it's evolution over the years. Sheds some light on the Senna accident. Gives a better view on many many things. Including how others see Ferrari and Italy from abroad. And of course offers a detailed overview of all Newey's cars.
Absolutely recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!