The driving forces behind Mclaren’s victorious revival
hsuccess in Monza was team’s first in nine years – but how was it achieved and will they now be challenging for titles again?
Mclaren are the second most successful team in Formula One history, with legendary drivers such as Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen steering them to a combined 183 race victories, 12 drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ championships.
But by the time Ron Dennis lost a court case against his fellow shareholders in 2016, subsequently selling his remaining shares in the team he had built, they were in dire straits. A combination of factors – the $100million Spygate fine, the loss of Mercedes power, the departure of Lewis Hamilton, infighting between Dennis and chief executive Martin Whitmarsh, the too-thin spreading of finite resources … all had contributed to a dramatic downward spiral.
The arrival of American Zak Brown, a brash American businessman and former driver, was not the obvious answer. But his impact has been impressive. The 49-year-old – a self-confessed “workaholic” who says he gets by on five hours’ sleep per night, famously firing off emails from his phone which never sleeps – was promoted to chief executive of Mclaren Racing in 2018 and has overseen a complete operational restructure, transforming the team’s fortunes.
Brown arrived with a reputation for sponsorship and brand-building, and did not entirely convince in his first couple of years, when he was also obliged to act as de facto team principal, a job to which he was less suited. To his credit, though, he acted decisively in 2018 when Mclaren produced another dog of a car. Eric Boullier, the Frenchman who rewarded his staff with Freddo chocolate bars when they produced packages on time, was forced to walk the plank, and Brown brought in a new technical and leadership team. Andrea Stella was promoted to engineering director, James Key also came on board as technical director, and both have proved shrewd signings.
The arrival of Andreas Seidl one year later was another masterstroke. The German was not a big name (although he had plenty of F1 experience with BMW, Seidl arrived from a stint with Porsche’s LMP1 project) and he remains very low-key now. But he was exactly what Mclaren needed, providing clear leadership and a strategic vision.
Return to Mercedes power
The partnership with Honda from 2015-17, trumpeted as a return to the glory years of the 1980s, was an unmitigated disaster, Mclaren eventually having to buy its way out and become a Renault customer in 2018. The results gradually improved – fourth place and a podium in 2019, third place and two podiums in 2020. But what really made the difference was managing to secure a deal to take Mercedes power units once again this season.
Combined with a new wind tunnel and various other infrastructure projects, the overall impression given is of joined-up thinking by Key, Seidl and Brown. Norris and Ricciardo ‘bromance’ The mood surrounding the team has been transformed. Nowhere has that been more obvious than in their driver dynamic.
Lando Norris, just 21, has been a revelation on track, so much so, you could make an argument that he has rather shown up new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo. But the Australian’s unquenchable bonhomie and vast experience have ensured that has not been an issue. The fact that Ricciardo bagged the team’s first win in Italy helped, of course. Norris’ reaction – genuine delight for his team-mate, sharing “Shoeys” with his team-mate on the podium – reflected well on their relationship. And their interactions on social media and in interviews is great PR. It all feels a long way from Fernando Alonso’s very public rebukes when he was toiling around at the back of the midfield.
Is a title challenge possible?
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz believes so. “Absolutely,” he said of his former team. “Mclaren, as a race team, is ready to win championships. They just need a car capable of doing it.”
But therein lies the problem. While the team are clearly on an upward trajectory, there are valid reasons to be cautious. First, there are huge technical regulation changes coming in next year and no one has any idea yet which team will have made the best fist of interpreting them. Second, you could argue that while Mclaren’s move to Mercedes power allowed them to make a big step, as a customer team they are always going to come up against a glass ceiling.
Mercedes, as the works team, work hand-in-glove with their engine team at Brixworth, continually working together to make the package more efficient.
Mclaren just get what they are given. It is a conundrum Red Bull are trying to solve by taking ownership of their own engine project. Perhaps Mclaren will have to do something similar if they want to be champions once more.