They may not be the hottest Formula 1 team at the moment, but Team West McLaren Mercedes still remains one of the slickest operations in the fast and glamorous world of Grand Prix racing. Thanks to Tag Heuer, one of the English team’s suppliers and F1’s official timekeeper, I had a rare chance to see the inner workings of a team that was responsible for Ayrton Senna’s three world championships and, in 1998 and 99, Mika Hakkinen’s back-to-back titles.
It was last month in Sepang, home of the Malaysian GP, that I became privy to one of the most successful teams in the history of Grand Prix racing. West McLaren Mercedes has also deservedly enjoyed a reputation as one of the most technologically astute teams in racing.
Unlike Ferrari, which is currently centered around its star driver and is milking the label’s (and Michael Schumacher’s) brandworthiness for all its worth, McLaren has always surrounded itself with some of the most capable drivers, suppliers and sponsors — but always in an elegantly understated way.
Mercedes-Benz, of course, supplies its near-800-bhp 3.0-liter V10 engines. Michelin, having replaced Bridgestone starting this season, is expected to give the Woking, Surrey-based firm the same performance advantage that Williams-BMW showed last year. Tag-Heuer, on the other hand, supplies the highly critical timing devices, not to mention the gorgeous Kirium F1 wristwatches that were prominently worn by drivers David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen and key team personnel. Kenwood, meanwhile, supplies radio communications equipment including the crucial pit-to-car communications system.
Other key performance-related suppliers are Mobil 1 for the fuels and lubricants; Catia Solutions for the cars’ ultra-secret CAD/CAM software; Advanced Composites Group for the cars’ super-strong carbon fiber composite bodies, tooling and design solutions; and Loctite for the high-tech adhesives used in the racecars’ construction.
Throughout our three-day stay in Kuala Lumpur and our daily visits to the track, we had several chances to meet and even interview key McLaren and Tag Heuer personnel. Although most drivers are discouraged from mingling with fans during race weekend, David, Kimi and former F1 racer and current McLaren test driver Alex Wurz had no problems gobbling up their pasta in full view of our star-struck group, the latter even smilingly accommodating our ill-timed request for a group photo. Team principal Ron Dennis OBE, meanwhile, was at the table right next to ours talking with ex-F1 racer and now-ITV presentor Martin Brundle and other team members. I could almost hear them discussing race day strategy.
I also had a chance to sit beside Tony Greer, McLaren’s Sponsor Coordinator, who shared so many anecdotes about the team and its members. I asked him if they still gave rides in the McLaren 2-seater car but he said that the team only recently retired the vehicle. It turns out that, like an aircraft, a racecar - particularly a highly specialized one like a Formula 1 car - has a limited lifespan and can only be refurbished to a certain extent. When it has accumulated so much mileage, it’s off to the museum or the show circuit.
Another key figure we met was Jean Campiche, Tag-Heuer’s Electronic Timing Manager. A former rally driver, Jean is overall in charge of the Swiss watchmaker’s vast timing operations. He gave a thorough yet entertaining explanation of Tag-Heuer’s incredibly complex array of high-tech equipment and systems, right down to how they are trucked and airlifted from circuit to circuit in special aluminum crates that are packed in mere hours despite occupying space enough for a big parking lot.
True to form, every aspect of the team’s operations was flawless - from the mechanics’ well-pressed overalls to the racecars’ brilliant paint finish, from the spotlessly clean pit garages to the impeccable service at the dining area. Everything was just clockwork perfect — at least until some laps into the race.
By now everyone knows that both McLarens were sidelined by mechanical problems in Sepang, leaving the door open for a Williams-BMW 1-2 finish. But when they were running, both cars were quick and well-placed for a points-scoring or even a podium finish. More work, obviously, is needed to make the cars more reliable and more competitive. Still, we can’t help but walk away from the track feeling impressed by what we saw. Formula 1 is a cyclical game. McLaren will be back.