MAYBE THERE IS A JOB FOR YOU IN FORMULA 1 RIGHT NOW

Landing a job in Formula 1 has been and will always been the dream of many and with staff turnover in teams increasing plus growing demands of the industry we did a summary of all the jobs available at the pinnacle of the sport among teams – with links to where you can apply online.

We came across over 80 current vacancies among the teams alone, which begs for an expansion of this study of jobs available beyond the F1 teams – suppliers, sponsors, media outlets, organisers, full-time, freelance etc. Perhaps for another time…

Williams has 16 posts of various staff levels that need filling while Force India only have two vacancies. Some teams have impressive preamble describing their workplace ethos and benefits, while some listings were economical on detail.

The types of jobs available are also noteworthy, for example, McLaren is seeking an HR Advisor amid the ongoing shake-up at Woking.

Below is a listing of jobs currently available in the Formula 1 industry on a Team-by-Team basis. Maybe one of them has your name on it? When you get it you can say you saw it on here!

Note: the Apply Now links leads to the relevant team’s careers/jobs page which in turn lists the available jobs with additional links for more information or to apply.

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Ferrari

The pursuit of excellence. Working for Ferrari means showing team spirit, a love of challenges and passion for achieving common goals. This is what has distinguished the people who have made our company famous over the course of its history.

It is also what we are looking for today in anyone who wants to join us. If you are ready to make a difference, please look at the job offers or send us your CV.

Wind Tunnel CFD Model Designer	Apply Now
Composite Design Engineer	Apply Now
Simulation Engineer	Apply Now
Vehicle Dynamics Engineer	Apply Now

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Mercedes

It takes nothing short of the best talent to keep our team on top. So consider carefully whether you’ve got what it takes to succeed with us. If you don’t see the right role for you, feel free to check back.

Build System Technician	Apply Now
Commercial Executive – 12 Months Fixed Term Contract	Apply Now
Composite Inspector – Early Late Shift – 6 Months Fixed Term Contract	Apply Now
Electronics Installation Design Engineer	Apply Now
Gearbox Build Technician	Apply Now
Head of Track Aerodynamic Performance	Apply Now
Inspection Etcher – Nightshift 6 Months Fixed Term Contract	Apply Now
Simulation and Modelling Engineer	Apply Now
Software Developer	Apply Now

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Red Bull Racing

Motorsport is the world’s only truly competitive engineering discipline, and at the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula One teams get to test their engineering prowess every other week against hyper-competitive peers and in front of an audience measured in the hundreds of millions.

Working for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing is fundamentally different to working for any of our competitors. It has the technological prowess and facilities that you would expect from a World Championship-winning F1 team but it also had an atmosphere that is uniquely Red Bull.

Team spirit is the foundation of everything we do because every job makes a vital contribution to developing and racing our Formula One cars.

The work is demanding and the pace of development is so fast your feet will barely touch the ground but job satisfaction really doesn’t get any better than the winning feeling of making a real contribution to a grand prix-winning car.

Looking to join the team? A number of positions available for you to check out!

Composite Project Buyer	Apply Now
Assembly Team Engineering Apprentice	Apply Now
Software Tester Apprentice	Apply Now
Electronics Engineering Apprentice	Apply Now
Electronics Engineer	Apply Now
Electronics Test & Inspection Technician	Apply Now
Electrical Technician	Apply Now
NDT Inspector (Composites/Metallics)	Apply Now
Simulation & Modelling Engineer	Apply Now
Drivetrain & Sub Assembly Technician	Apply Now
Hydraulics And Pu Systems Assembly Technician	Apply Now
Senior Aerodynamics Engineer	Apply Now
Structures Analyst	Apply Now

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Renault F1 Team

Available Jobs:

Finance Assistant	Apply Now
R&D Technician	Apply Now
CNC Machinist/Programmer	Apply Now
Machining Buyer	Apply Now
Project Buyer	Apply Now
Calibration Engineer	Apply Now
Graduate Software Engineer	Apply Now
Transmission Design Enginner	Apply Now
Data Science Placement Student	Apply Now
Senior Surface Designer	Apply Now
Software Engineer	Apply Now
Lead Software Tester	Apply Now
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer	Apply Now
CNC Turner	Apply Now

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McLaren

To design, build and operate a Formula One car at race-winning levels requires focus, ambition, imagination, dedication and attention to detail.

Our successful racing heritage has been driven by a relentless desire to innovate. Whether it be Bruce’s early experiments with four-wheel drive or pioneering the use of a full carbon fibre construction we have led the way in developing ground-breaking technologies now applied in the wider world.

Our business is the sum of our people. From stores person to aerodynamicist, mechanic to software developer, materials buyer to graduate engineer, each individual offers a vital contribution to our past and future successes.

That’s why we recruit the most highly skilled in the industry and develop the most talented apprentices and graduates who supply the lifeblood of our team, and who make the McLaren Technology Centre one of the most exciting environments to build your career in.

Available Jobs:

Software Engineer	Apply Now
Junior Buyer	Apply Now
Build and Test Technician	Apply Now
Senior Software Engineer	Apply Now
PLM Specialist Engineering	Apply Now
CNC Programmer / Machinist	Apply Now
Electrical and Electronics Designer	Apply Now
HR Advisor	Apply Now
Apprentice Composite Technician	Apply Now
Build and Test Trainee 1	Apply Now
Race Team Mechanic	Apply Now
PLM Administrator	Apply Now

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Sahara Force India

We are looking for outstanding people to join the team to continue our push towards the front of the grid. With a focus on competitiveness and innovation, Sahara Force India Formula One Team is an inspirational and rewarding place to work. We are investing heavily in our future success – but, above all, we are investing in the right people.

All applicants must:
Have previous relevant experience working within a high-level motorsport environment
Be able to demonstrate an innovative and flexible approach to problem-solving and possess the ability to work through problems in a scientific and analytical way
Be able to integrate quickly into existing teams and be actively involved in many aspects of each department
Have good communication and analytical skills and be able to work to tight deadlines, often under pressure
Be highly self -motivated, thrive in a challenging environment and have a flexible approach to working hours.

Available Jobs:

Maintenance Electrician Apprentice	Apply Now
Software Developer	Apply Now

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Williams

Formula One is a human capital business. Without world class talent matched to a profound commitment to go beyond the definition of the normal understanding of commitment, success in Formula One would be an elusive goal.

It follows therefore that Williams’ staff are its most important asset. The company prizes itself in a positive level of engagement, support and reward for its workforce, reflected in the number of employees who have served 25 years or more with the organisation.

Today Williams employs around 600 personnel at a 40ha technology campus based in the heart of the UK’s ‘Motorsport Valley’ in rural Oxfordshire. The company’s core competencies are the design and manufacture of Formula One race cars, and the deployment of this expertise in running the team’s entries into the grands prix each season.

Although Williams has expanded over recent times, we believe we have kept the family within the team and a supportive and friendly environment. Williams was founded back in 1977 by former team owner Sir Frank Williams and automotive engineer Sir Patrick Head.

We are an independent Formula One team with a philosophy and history of winning races. We have won 16 World Championship titles and 114 grands prix, making us one of the most successful teams in the history of the sport and an iconic global brand name.

Available Jobs:

Junior Surfacer	Apply Now
Industrial Placement – Software Engineer	Apply Now
Apprentice Electrician	Apply Now
Graduate Software Developer	Apply Now
Operation Design Engineer – Team Leader	Apply Now
Production Controller / Scheduler	Apply Now
Financial Planning & Analysis Manager	Apply Now
Inspector – Day Shift	Apply Now
Inspector – Night Shift	Apply Now
Junior Accounts Assistant	Apply Now
Junior It Project Manager	Apply Now
Lead Aerodynamics Concept Surfacer	Apply Now
Software Developer	Apply Now
Toolpath Programmer – Weekend Day Shift	Apply Now
Trackside It Support Technician	Apply Now
Wind Tunnel Technician – Continental Shift	Apply Now

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Haas F1 Team

Available Jobs:

Aerodynamics Team Leader – Parma	Apply Now
Electronics Trackside Team Leader – Oxford	Apply Now
Performance Software Engineer – Oxford	Apply Now

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Scuderia Toro Rosso

Available Jobs:

Surface Designer	Apply Now
Senior Aerodynamicist	Apply Now
CFD Aerodynamicist	Apply Now
Sensor and Instrument Manager	Apply Now
Production Planner – 12 Month Placement	Apply Now

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Getting involved as a member of multicultural Sauber F1 Team with a lot of passion, motivation, ambition, talent and openness – to work towards the common goal of success at the track. We want to win; you are helping. Welcome to the team! Thank you very much for your interest! Available Jobs:

Vehicle Setup Mechanic	Apply Now
Composite Design Engineer	Apply Now
Systems Engineer	Apply Now
Senior Structural Analyst and Aerodynamicist	Apply Now
ICT Network Engineer 100%	Apply Now
Tyre Modelling Engineer	Apply Now
Aero Designer / CAD Design Engineer	Apply Now
Surface Aero Designer / CAD Design Engineer	Apply Now

VILLENEUVE: RAIKKONEN PENALTY LESS SEVERE IF HE HIT BOTTAS

Amid suggestions by Mercedes that Ferrari employed dirty tricks on the opening lap of the British Grand Prix, Jacques Villeneuve has stirred the pot further by suggesting that Kimi Raikkonen’s 10-second penalty would have been less severe if he hit Valtteri Bottas instead of Lewis Hamilton.

Much has been written about the accusations, retractions, outrage, apologies etc that have characterised this saga, but Villeneuve has another spin to add to the tale.

Working as a pundit for Sky Italia, the Canadian said after the race at Silverstone, “I don’t understand why it’s 10 seconds, and another time it’s five, sometimes it’s nothing. That’s what’s wrong. It’s racing. I don’t like it when there are racing penalties, it should be for dirty driving, which is a different thing, or stupid driving.”

“They decided that it’s Lewis, we’re in the UK, he’s fighting for the championship, that’s worth 10 seconds. If it had been Bottas, it would have been five seconds, that’s the thing. Sometimes you see things like Verstappen in Austria when he touched Kimi.”

“Why wasn’t that a penalty? Just because Kimi didn’t go off? If Kimi had gone off, then it would have been a penalty? That’s what’s wrong, it’s the action that matters, not what happens after the action, ultimately,” added Villeneuve.

On lap one of the race at Silverstone, Hamilton was spun around by Raikkonen and thereafter stormed through the field to finish second behind race winner Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

“He finished second after a crappy start, so he should be happy with that, because he wasn’t going to win this race. Nothing to complain about,” reasoned Villeneuve.

By: Paul Velasco

Is it Romain’s time up in Formula 1?

Romain Grosjean has regained his “First Lap Nutcase” nickname after another unacceptably wild race at the British Grand Prix, this time the Haas driver clipped his own teammate on the opening lap and then later pranged into the Renault of Carlos Sainz for yet another DNF.

These were a couple more on a long list of incidents this season – including that Turn 2 spin at Barcelona and that rookie mistake in Baku warming his tyres and blaming the ‘ghost’ of Marcus Ericsson – which the Frenchman rarely accepts responsibility for and hence never learns.
Grosjean is an interesting story, rising through the ranks when France was desperate to revive a pipeline of drivers into Formula 1. The grid in 2004 was devoid of Frenchmen for the first time in decades as the stream of talent and backing of young drivers had run dry in the country.

Step up the young Switzerland-born driver with a Swiss father and French mother. Incredibly quick, good image and charismatic the youngster ticked all the boxes. Getting him a French licence was no problem so he could wear the Tricolor on his belt.

Hence began the fast track of Grosjean to Formula 1 through Renault and a certain Flavio Briatore via the GP2 Series.

At the time Renault were on a high with Fernando Alonso F1 world champion in 2005 and 2006, the French manufacturer also very involved in the junior series through Formula Renault and of course the GP2 Series.

Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone were the movers and shakers behind the formation of GP2, with Briatore securing the rights to supply Mecachrome developed and maintained Renault engines to the new F1 feeder series.

Once established it became known that Renault, GP2 and Briatore were keen to find a French driver to promote into Formula 1 in the short-term

Looking around it was clear that Grosjean was something special, front-runner or champion in most the junior series he entered including the 2007 Euro Formula 3 title.

In 2008 he made a big impact in the GP2 Asia Series, winning the title that year at which point I came into contact with him and GP2 in my role as Dubai Autodrome communications manager.

The cars were based at our circuit for the duration of the series with four rounds scheduled at the venue, so I was exposed to how things worked.

At the time, I also befriended a driver and his father who needed a lift to their hotel in town late into evenings on race weekends.

I obliged as I closed my media centre when the last scribbler or photographer departed and the pair were there as late as I was so they grabbed a ride and we chatted at length. BTW the driver is a big deal these days.

During these rides and over a beer, father and son opened up and gave me the lowdown on the state of play in GP2 which turns out was a battlefield of intrigue and politics with Flavio pulling the strings.

In a nutshell GP2 (like Formula 2 today) is a one make series with ‘equal’ engines etcetera.

But anyone who knows about racing is aware that not all engines are as equal (as they say) and it is well known that during dyno tests for performance, reliability etc engine builders obtain data which allows them to identify which engine unit is ‘more equal than the other’ – nudge, nudge wink, wink say no more…

Having that knowledge makes the engine supplier extremely powerful for obvious reasons. To cut a long story short, the driver and his father confirmed that it was no secret that Romain was getting preferential treatment and everyone on the grid knew it but nothing could be done or said about it because of intricate alliances between drivers, teams, bosses and organisers et al.

Wild, arrogant, irresponsible, sore loser, malicious, dirty – Romain the ‘chosen’ shooting star was called a lot of things by his rivals in those days, but none ever denied that the kid had incredible raw speed when he connected all the dots. Probably the quickest of that generation of capable drivers.

Furthermore, I also learnt at the time in the feeder series you were either a Flavio driver or a Red Bull driver, of course the Flav-lads got the good goodies. As a Renault backed Flav-lad Romain had very, very good kit at his disposal.

Like most French tales there was also talk at the time of the handsome and energetic youngster’s dalliances with a GP2 Series staff member which was asked of me by a tenacious Gulf News reporter doing the motorsport beat.

As comms guy at the Autodrome, I questioned the rumours and was advised to shut it, no mention and passed on the message to the reporter. As instructed, I shut it but these things you don’t forget.

Meanwhile in the big league, over at Renault with Flav at the helm they were giddy from the 05-06 back-to-back F1 titles with Alonso but soon performances went south.

With the Spaniard frustrated, victories unlikely and Renault watching intently Flav was desperate so his gang engineered the infamous Crashgate at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, which was exposed a year later – a desperate effort to buy time and pacify the mounting critics.

Almost a year later, shortly before Flav and his cronies were bust for the Crashgate crime, Nelson Piquet junior was under fire as Alonso’s teammate, with pressure on Flav to promote Grosjean to the Renault race seat, so to their own downfall they axed the Brazilian.

Young, dumb and the rest… it soon showed that Romain was not ready for the step up to Formula 1 as many, including his rivals, had predicted.

History shows that Grosjean qualified 14th for his F1 debut at the 2009 European Grand Prix in Valencia (Flav’s circuit) and was only three tenths down on Alonso.

The debutant collided with Luca Badoer on the opening lap but recovered to finish 15th. Next time out at Spa, Romain qualified 19th and collided with Jenson Button on the opening lap.

Next up the Italian Grand Prix, qualified an impressive 12th but a lap one, Turn 1 shunt after a poor start compromised his race. He recovered to finish 15th.

Then Boom! Crashgate! Exposed!

In the week after Monza, on 17 September, Patrick Pelata, Renault chief operating officer, gave the first official statement: “The [Renault F1] team believes that a mistake has been made, and punishment must follow. Flavio Briatore considered himself to be morally responsible and resigned.”

A week later with Renault’s F1 project in disarray, the bright lights of Singapore added insult to injury for the French team when their bright young thing crashed his car in the eaxct same spot Piquet had been ordered to do a year earlier.

It was a glaring mistake which he acknowledged when he reported meekly over the radio: “Sorry guys, I lost the car in turn 17.”

It was a bitter pill for Renault to swallow as live TV beamed to millions the image of Romain’s car crunched into that infamous wall for what seemed like ages, as commentators rambled on about Crashgate, capped by the cruel irony of what was playing out in front of us. Talk about Karma!

At the end of 2009, the penny finally dropped at Renault: Romain was not ready for the top flight.

They dropped him and FIA GT and other relatively obscure racing beckoned for the next two years before his Gravity Racing management, who kept faith in him, through Genii orchestrated the takeover of the Renault F1 project that Flav left in ruins.

Along the way, Romain duly delivered by adding the 2011 GP2 Series title to GP2 Asia title already on his CV. He was driving for DAMS at the time which has always had deep-rooted connections to the Renault works outfit.

Thus it was no surprise, considering his connections and minders, in 2012 Romain was back on the F1 grid at the 2012 Australian Grand Prix with Lotus powered by Renault alongside Kimi Raikkonen who was back from destroying trees.

In qualifying for that race Romain popped an impressive lap to claim third while the Iceman’s best was only good for 18th.

No denying, indeed Grosjean had very impressive raw speed as often related by his rivals and peers, but on race day he had a torrid opening lap, then on lap two he crashed into Pastor Maldonado and out of the race. Raikkonen survived and finished seventh in the other Lotus.

A week later in Malaysia, the Frenchman started 7th, made a good start and was third into Turn 1, then in Turn 4 the Lotus made contact with Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes, both spun out. Grosjean resumed way behind before spinning again and beaching it on lap 4.

Finally, at the next race in China, he scored points with a strong showing to finish sixth. He was third a race later in Bahrain which he followed up with a couple podiums before perpetrating one of the most spectacular F1 crashes in memory.

On the opening lap of the Belgian Grand Prix he ploughed through the field as they powered into the Hairpin at Spa, taking out the front runners and earning himself a one-race ban for his waywardness. Very luckily no one was injured.

Fast forwarding to now, we have a likeable and smart guy, with a lovely wife and kids, passionate about food, great sense of humour, GPDA director. In other words, he got his act together in his personal life and created the kind of space from which Sebastian Vettel operates, a family guy as opposed to a partygoer.

But all this has not translated to a calm and collected driver. Instead, we have a guy who dips his visor and the red mist sprays incessantly and most commonly on the first lap.

It is no longer a joke. These cars are almighty safe, but never say never and God-forbid he injures himself or worse takes others with him.

Honestly, Barcelona was scary and the fact that he kept his foot down – smoking the tyres and creating a cloud of smoke, rendering blind those fast approaching from behind – does not sit well with me.

Did he want someone to crash into him to justify his gaffe? Whatever the case, another first lap cock-up and a lame attempt to lay blame elsewhere for his capers.

Silverstone was a new low. First, he trashed his Haas with a silly mistake in FP1 which forced him to miss FP2 as his crew repaired the damage.

Then he seriously compromised his and his teammate’s race by clattering into Magnussen on the opening lap, thus denying the team sure and valuable points as their car was ‘Best of the Rest’ throughout the weekend.”

Deluded or dazed or confused or all three, after the race at Silverstone Romain said: “At the beginning of the race with Kevin, I think it was a mistake from both of us. It shouldn’t happen, so we need to work on that to ensure it doesn’t happen anymore.”

Romain! You crashed into him! What must Kevin work on?

Have they done tests on this guy? Like an adrenalin overdose to the brain test? Does something in his rationale switch-off in moments of intense pressure or excitement? Maybe he is concussed? Breathalyser? Dope test?

Is it just me thinking this? Should something scientific or medical be done to evaluate Romain’s mental fitness to race cars? They should ASAP.

Steiner and the whole Haas outfit have gone to great lengths (can you imagine the pain of doing so?) to avoid criticising their driver. Admirable for sure, but sustainable?

Surely Gene is adding up the cost of bent metal in the bin with “Romain Did It” tags attached. Suddenly that wad of cash that Ferrari have to spend on a race seat for their man Antonio Giovinazzi is looking more and more attractive.

The question is: do Guenther and Gene wait until the end of the season or go for broke and replace Romain with the Italian after this summer for Belgium and beyond?

Infinitely polite and remarkably patient, Haas team chief Guenther Steiner tried to explain his hapless driver’s latest failing: “I would not call it failures. It’s becoming frustration. Every time we hope that everything turns for him, but it happens again. We will certainly cope, but it’s not easy.”

“We need to score points, do the maximum in every race weekend. It’s important for us to move forward rather than standing still.”

“I support Romain and that’s my duty because I care about the success of the team. How long will it go on? I don’t know when the critical moment will come.”

“It has not yet arrived, but at some point, we must stop losing points. This is extremely important. In the first half of the season, we lost too many points due to our own mistakes – it’s unacceptable,” added Steiner… ominously?

Right now the grid is packed with very good young (real) French drivers, the Grosjean/Renault connection finally ending when he ‘defected’ to Ferrari powered Haas.

Increasingly for him, there is nowhere to hide, no more protection, just hard facts that he has not cut it in the top flight. Too many incidents not expected of one with so much experience in F1.

Untested by Esteban Guitterez during the Mexican’s tenure at the team, Romain – still blisteringly fast at times – has wilted beside current teammate Kevin Magnussen who stands and delivers for the American team while in the garage next to him the crew work overtime to repair the sister car.

Finally, the “First Lap Nutcase” moniker arose after the Frenchman tangled with no-nonsense Mark Webber during the opening lap of the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix, Romain’s Lotus sent the Red Bull spinning.

That day at Suzuka, after recovering from the Turn 1 incident to finish ninth, a livid Webber told reporters, “The guys confirmed that it was the First-Lap Nutcase again – Grosjean.”

“The rest of us are trying to fight for some decent results but he is trying to get to the third corner as fast as he can at every race.’

“It makes it frustrating because a few big guys probably suffered from that and maybe he needs another holiday,” added the Aussie with reference to Romain’s Monza one race ban. He needs to have a look at himself, it was completely his fault. First-lap incidents… yeah… it’s quite embarrassing at this level for him.”

Now, 110 grand prix starts since then and 14 race-accident-related DNFs in that time we are here asking exactly the same question of Grosjean that Webbo asked six years ago: “How many mistakes can you make, how many times can you make the same error?”

By: Paul Velasco

KEEPING TRACK OF THE ROT AT MCLAREN

By : Paul Velasco
5 July, 2018
20 Comments





In September last year, I was told by a McLaren staffer, I have known for years, about the state-of-affairs at Woking and it was not a pretty picture which did not convince everyone that something was amiss in thw offices inside the MTC.

But it so happens that what Martin Whitmarsh revealed to the world last month was actually highlighted ten months ago. At the time, the source said there were many people dissatisfied with management and resenting the current leadership which has not won over all the hearts and minds of their own team.

It was definitely a classic case of ‘if there’s smoke blah blah’ so did some sleuthing to come up with this piece published 17 September, 2017:



Unsurprisingly there were the doubters who questioned the Glassdoor quotes. Whatever the case the smoke was there and it turned out to be a bonfire as we now all know.

I will reiterate a line I wrote at the time that still applies: “Irrespective of this I believe that McLaren’s presence in Formula 1 is as important as Ferrari being there.”

In the wake of Eric Boullier’s departure/dismissal (you choose) it is fitting to unload my notes regarding feedback, chats and emails from the collection of sources that on occasions have tipped me off with matters pertaining to the downfall of this great team. Thanks for that, you know who you are.

Interestingly much of the info in the notes I have gathered is now verified by the reshuffle and Zak Brown’s subsequent insights which reveal an organisation in disarray and recently described by their legendary former designer John Barnard as an oil-tanker slowly turning while fortunes on track plummet to historic lows.

The notes below are pretty fresh – sourced over past month or so – but pre-dates the restructuring announced yesterday by McLaren and Brown’s subsequent comments:

• Highly political with faction fighting between departments
• Toxic atmosphere wherein a blame-game culture prevails
• Most of former marketing staff let go. If your face doesn’t fit!
• New team brought in, many ex-Just Marketing International (JMI) – Zak Brown’s former marketing company – most coming in with impressive titles and big salaries!
• Traditionally former marketing team worked hard with the sponsors with new ideas, now very much left to the agencies, many of which are ex-F1 marketeers!
• Hospitality much diminished, but still large number of marketing staff attend races
• Little or no passion – unlike previous years when team was winning, under Ron.
• Team not encouraged to develop own ideas – just do your job!
• Not the attention to detail – not using Ron Dennis methods
• Worst dressed team!
• Staff not impressed with team kit and merchandise
• Has lost the winning culture and it’s notable that very few of old winning team still there
• Zak Brown under pressure – now has full responsibility for racing.
• ZB has cast last dice, from boss of everything he engineered to head up the Formula 1 operation – now he has to deliver
• Zak not present in Austria.
• Zak has not brought in any new sponsors of any significance – car bear
• Branding for KIMOA – Alonso’s clothing brand barter on the Spaniard’s mega-bucks salary
• WTF is a Freddo?

Dismantling the matrix that Martin Whitmarsh instilled to be less dependent on superstar designers such as Adrian Newey.

The last point on Newey is so pertinent right now as the two teams who let him slip through their fingers – Williams and McLaren – are languishing at the wrong end of the grid while the design genius regularly pumps out fantastic race cars. Case in point this year’s Red Bull RB14 versus McLaren MCL33, no contest by a large margin

To illustrate this I asked a contact and friend of mine at McLaren if I could publish the email he sent me regarding his thoughts on Newey in the wake of these latest developments, he agreed but asked that it be done anonymously for obvious reasons. Here it is:

Hi Paul

Good job on the McLaren coverage bit harsh but I can’t fault it and I think quite a few people I know on the F1 race team are jittery.

But I am not writing to you about that!

I was around in the days of Adrian and Ron, I think it is important that history is not twisted around to suit the story.

That Ron did not make Adrian a shareholder or gave him everything he wanted shocked me then and to be honest I am still in shock to this day. It was a big mistake.

I think it was around 1997 when Adrian came on board from Williams, he was a shy and quiet guy but obvious a genius.

We won 98 and 99, but at some point in early 2000 he nearly went to Jag. We found out then that Ron refused to make him a shareholder. Adrian stayed but he was never the same then Christian [Horner] came along and that was that.

RD poo-pooed the move at the time like it was no big deal. Some agreed with him but there were others who could not believe we lost Adrian. I still am!!!

What we have today is directly due to that missed opportunity.

Ron is admired for what he did here at McLaren, great cars, beautiful kit, painting pit garages, great jokes, proper team spirit, and our attitude. We were Boss remember! We were the real deal and the team everyone had to beat. We walked tall. He deserves eternal credit for that.

But even the big boys f@ck up and that cannot be forgotten in light of what history has shown us. RD won’t ever admit it, but if he is intelligent and honest he will agree.

Allowing RB to take Adrian is so inexplicable it makes me question really how good RD actually was.

Imagine that a car designer and recognised talent working for our F1-spawned supercar manufacturer is lured away to work for an energy drinks organisation!!!

That was so f@cking stupid and the day Adrian walked the rot began here. It took a while to manifest but now we have it. Its a friggin morgue.

So true source of today’s problem is RD was shortsighted (stupid???) enough not to lock Adrian into a deal which would probably cost the team a couple of a million quid a year at the time.

I think he gets ten or 12 mil a year from RB, cheap if you think of the wage packages they dish out for our design staff that put together that shitbox.

Instead, they went matrix with Martin, tasked by Ron to the change the culture from Adrian who at the time had a smallish team of hand-picked assistants to what it is now.

It’s a mess! Try pinpoint what is wrong, or in this case who is to blame, when they deliver a shitbox like we have now. Instead, goodbye Tim, Eric and many more trust me… as you say watch this space. LOL!

Matrix means no accountability, faction fighting and pointing fingers. It has not worked.

So there you have it from the horse’s mouth.

Trying times lie ahead for McLaren’s Formula 1 team. Brown at the helm has nowhere to hide. He has talked the talk, now it is time to walk the walk to salvage the mess that began long before he even dreamed of being the team’s boss.

We welcome any feedback from people directly connected to McLaren. Transparency is important in times of change.