A few weeks ago, McLaren remembered the death of its founding father – Bruce McLaren. The gentle kiwi was tragically killed in a testing accident at Goodwood at the controls of his McLaren Can-Am M8D. Ironically, due to what the current MCL60 still lacks – downforce.
Despite his untimely passing, the company he founded went on to enjoy huge success. Not only in Formula 1 but in each one of the triple crowns. The most notable of which had to be their sole Le Man victory in 1995, where they defied all odds by sweeping the GT Class the race overall!
In fact, if you look back, you’ll see that since the 70s, McLaren has won at least one if not multiple, F1 World Championships (driver or constructor) in every decade until… the twenty-teens. The last time the McLaren Team lifted an F1 Championship trophy, it was at the hands of a young Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
Photocopy rites
This was the year after the infamous Ferrarigate/Stepneygate/Spygate scandal when McLaren and Ron Dennis were found to have carried out industrial espionage on an industrial scale against Ferrari. Not Big Ron personally of course, but his name was on the door, so he had to face the music.
And expensive music it was too, McLaren was fined $100-Million by the FIA and their points for the 2007 Constructors’ Championship were removed! Max Mosely, the then President, allegedly joked afterwards that it was “$5-Million for the offence and $95-Million for Ron being a twat.” At one point, Mosely was even considering a two-year ban, but one Bernie Ecclestone talked him off that ledge! Think yourself lucky Christian.
Et tu Fernando
Fernando Alonso also featured heavily in the case for the prosecution vis-à-vis the contents of emails between himself and McLarens then test driver, Pedro de La Rosa. At that point in time things were a bit acrimonious between him and Ron. McLaren’s apparent number two – a certain Lewis Hamilton, wasn’t playing number two ball. Alonso apparently felt he was being unfairly treated by the team and, during an explosive meeting, threatened to disclose the contents of the emails. He followed through on this promise.
Can we have our Championships back?
Things were never really the same after this and in 2009, following a number of other faux pas, Ron was asked to close the door from the outside of the McLaren CEO office by the other shareholders. Although he claimed he was leaving the room anyways, it was obvious that his position was becoming untenable. Unfortunately for McLaren, when he also left, he did so with the team’s ability to win World Championships. A talent they have yet to revive.
Enter the guru
In 2018 Zak Brown took over as McLaren CEO. His knowledge of the motor racing world is second to none. His only weakness is that he’s not an engineer. This means he has to rely on the engineering team and that is McLaren’s vulnerability.
Brown is doing his best to change this. The number of sponsors on the car is a testament to his F1 commercial talents. However, things on the car design side of the fence are not so green. A shake-up of team personnel has seen their highly experienced Technical Director – James Key shown the door. But there is no heir apparent of any gravitas.
“Alpinning”
McLaren has the money, and they have the drivers, but without the car, they are consigned to the back of the grid. I feel sorry for both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, although Lando has the comfort of his wallet and a long contract.
Oscar, on the other hand, must be asking himself “why” every time an Alpine sails past him. McLaren should have been his springboard to F1 success, but at the moment, it’s just a springboard into the cold-hearted empty pool of a slow car. Things need to change quickly if McLaren is not to lose the driver part of the F1 team holy trinity.