Pat Symonds, born on June 11, 1953, in Bedford, England, is a highly regarded British engineer and Formula 1 strategist. With a background in engineering from Oxford Polytechnic, Symonds began his F1 career in the 1980s, initially with Toleman and Benetton. He played a crucial role in Benetton’s success, helping Michael Schumacher secure two world championships in the mid-1990s.

Symonds later joined Renault, where he continued to demonstrate his expertise, helping Fernando Alonso win two consecutive drivers' titles in 2005 and 2006. His reputation as a top strategist and technical leader earned him subsequent roles with Virgin Racing (later Marussia) and Williams, where he served as Chief Technical Officer.