Hiroshi Imai (engineer)
Hiroshi Imai | |
|---|---|
今井 宏 | |
| Alma mater | University of Tokyo |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Employer | Bridgestone |
| Known for | Tyre engineer |
| Title | Vice President, Motorsports |
Hiroshi Imai (Japanese: 今井 宏, Hepburn: Imai Hiroshi) is a Japanese Formula One and motorsports engineer. He is current the Vice President of Motorsport at the Bridgestone tyre company.[1]
Career
Imai studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tokyo, graduating with a master's degree in 1990. He joined Bridgestone the same year, beginning a career focused on tyre development and performance engineering. He began working in Formula One in 2003 and during Bridgestone's participation, he played a key role in the design, testing, and trackside optimisation of race tyres, contributing to multiple Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships achieved by Bridgestone-supplied teams.[1]
Seeking a different challenge, Imai moved to McLaren in 2009 as a Principal Engineer, acting as a central liaison between the team and tyre suppliers while continuing to specialise in tyre behaviour and vehicle performance correlation.[2] In 2017 he was appointed Chief Race Engineer, overseeing trackside engineering operations before being promoted to Director-level roles responsible for race engineering as well as tyres and brakes performance integration.[3] He played a key role in McLaren's revival which culminated in the team winning the constructors championship in 2024.[4]
In 2025, Imai returned to Bridgestone in a senior executive capacity as vice president and Senior Officer for motorsports tyre development and technology, where he leads the company's global motorsport technical strategy and performance research.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Bridgestone establishes a New Motorsports Management structure" (PDF). Bridgestone.
- ^ "McLaren's team drivers, in Bahrain with Hiroshi Imai, a tire engineer". New York Times.
- ^ "TAKE A BRAKE". McLaren.
- ^ "McLaren issue statement as long-serving engineer leaves team". PlanetF1.
- ^ "Imai to head new Bridgestone Motorsports Organization". Tyre Press.