Discussion
TD of TR to McLaren : https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/44961301
Rich_W, belleair302, really interesting insights, thank you.
Zak Brown seems to have taken stock the last few weeks and done what he could to ensure McLaren remain low profile in the news lately! Even through another dead weekend, the press just left them off limits. It’s the sensible thing to do if you can nudge the right people to give you a break.
Seen both posts about the Engineering changes, thank you. Interested to hear views on how they think things pan out. So:
ZB
/. /. /.
Ferran. Stella. (Key)
In the old announcement, Roberts was announced as “COO, of McLaren Racing, overseeing, production, [b]engineering[/i] and logistics. How does that really work with the incoming Key? I have my guess. Additionally ZB mentions that’s there’s ‘hundreds of guys and gals working really hard every day’. Of course. But they won’t all be true engineers. How does anyone see the engineering thing be properly organised, if anyone’s comfortable to posit.
Keen to understand.
Zak Brown seems to have taken stock the last few weeks and done what he could to ensure McLaren remain low profile in the news lately! Even through another dead weekend, the press just left them off limits. It’s the sensible thing to do if you can nudge the right people to give you a break.
Seen both posts about the Engineering changes, thank you. Interested to hear views on how they think things pan out. So:
ZB
/. /. /.
Ferran. Stella. (Key)
In the old announcement, Roberts was announced as “COO, of McLaren Racing, overseeing, production, [b]engineering[/i] and logistics. How does that really work with the incoming Key? I have my guess. Additionally ZB mentions that’s there’s ‘hundreds of guys and gals working really hard every day’. Of course. But they won’t all be true engineers. How does anyone see the engineering thing be properly organised, if anyone’s comfortable to posit.
Keen to understand.
Key is a great signing.
toro rosso has continually outperformed its budget by delivering effective and inventive updates. If as suggested previously the Mclaren processes aren't moving because there are too many improvements being looked at he should be the right man to trim that out.
Less is more
toro rosso has continually outperformed its budget by delivering effective and inventive updates. If as suggested previously the Mclaren processes aren't moving because there are too many improvements being looked at he should be the right man to trim that out.
Less is more
hairyben said:
Rich_W said:
Couple or 4 years ago I applied at McLaren Automotive for a job. (Actually applied for more than 1 
) I met all the criteria required. I have the skills and the experience. If you look at their careers site, they want a degree for bleeding everything, (I don't) but will consider experience in lieu of one ! 
A recruiter from Woking called and we had a chat. My experience was apparently what they were looking for. Are you free in the next few days for an interview? What do you expect your notice to be? He mentioned "the package" "competitive" and "discounts on certain products" "staff car scheme" (which I never partake in anyway)
He casually asked my then current OTE. He audibly gasped when I said what I was on at the time. We're not talking millions, in the mid 30s. Fair market rate for someone doing my job with the level of experience.
"We cant match that for this role" he said (They were expecting to pay mid 20s for the role!)
"We only pay near that for the more senior role" (never did say, but inference was they couldn't match it even for the senior role!)
"Ok", says I, "can I be considered for that then?"
"I'll have to get back to you since you don't have a degree"
Needless to say he didn't. Not overly concerned, I'll take a slight pay cut if it means better career or bigger pay in the long term. But it cemented in my head that they expected "It's McLaren" to over ride everything. And unfortunately Nationwide building Society don't take that instead of cold hard cash!
Interestingly if you ever see a video of the people building their road cars in the factory. Average age looks very young. Great for younger generation, we need people to get experience, but I do wonder if it's not motivated by cheaper overheads...
I thought miserably low pay was across-the-board in F1? You're supposed to want to do it for the love. ) I met all the criteria required. I have the skills and the experience. If you look at their careers site, they want a degree for bleeding everything, (I don't) but will consider experience in lieu of one ! A recruiter from Woking called and we had a chat. My experience was apparently what they were looking for. Are you free in the next few days for an interview? What do you expect your notice to be? He mentioned "the package" "competitive" and "discounts on certain products" "staff car scheme" (which I never partake in anyway)
He casually asked my then current OTE. He audibly gasped when I said what I was on at the time. We're not talking millions, in the mid 30s. Fair market rate for someone doing my job with the level of experience.
"We cant match that for this role" he said (They were expecting to pay mid 20s for the role!)
"We only pay near that for the more senior role" (never did say, but inference was they couldn't match it even for the senior role!)
"Ok", says I, "can I be considered for that then?"
"I'll have to get back to you since you don't have a degree"
Needless to say he didn't. Not overly concerned, I'll take a slight pay cut if it means better career or bigger pay in the long term. But it cemented in my head that they expected "It's McLaren" to over ride everything. And unfortunately Nationwide building Society don't take that instead of cold hard cash!
Interestingly if you ever see a video of the people building their road cars in the factory. Average age looks very young. Great for younger generation, we need people to get experience, but I do wonder if it's not motivated by cheaper overheads...
Unless you're a newey or a Hamilton etc.
Key is a big talent, and I consider a bit of a coup for McL. Finally a proper TD!
Okay this is how I see it working:
Key (TD)
Prodromou (Aero) - Stella (Track Ops) - Roberts (Factory)
Key's cars have been very strong mechanically and there is obvious synergy between his and Prodromou's outputs at McLaren. I sense a good partnership here.
And that's another one of the supposed "untouchables" gone from McLaren.
Okay this is how I see it working:
Key (TD)
Prodromou (Aero) - Stella (Track Ops) - Roberts (Factory)
Key's cars have been very strong mechanically and there is obvious synergy between his and Prodromou's outputs at McLaren. I sense a good partnership here.
And that's another one of the supposed "untouchables" gone from McLaren.
Time to get the popcorn out?...
https://twitter.com/karunchandhok/status/102247054...
Franz Tost:
"James Key has a long term valid contract with the team. The contents of the contract are confidential, therefore we won’t comment on any of the details."
https://twitter.com/karunchandhok/status/102247054...
Franz Tost:
"James Key has a long term valid contract with the team. The contents of the contract are confidential, therefore we won’t comment on any of the details."
ajprice said:
Time to get the popcorn out?...
https://twitter.com/karunchandhok/status/102247054...
Franz Tost:
"James Key has a long term valid contract with the team. The contents of the contract are confidential, therefore we won’t comment on any of the details."
Unless McLaren have something Torro Rosso want.https://twitter.com/karunchandhok/status/102247054...
Franz Tost:
"James Key has a long term valid contract with the team. The contents of the contract are confidential, therefore we won’t comment on any of the details."
Dr Z said:
Key is a big talent, and I consider a bit of a coup for McL. Finally a proper TD!
Okay this is how I see it working:
Key (TD)
Prodromou (Aero) - Stella (Track Ops) - Roberts (Factory)
Key's cars have been very strong mechanically and there is obvious synergy between his and Prodromou's outputs at McLaren. I sense a good partnership here.
And that's another one of the supposed "untouchables" gone from McLaren.
Thanks for that, and understand your logic. You guys know better than me who are the rated people in the field, so I’ll pay more attentionOkay this is how I see it working:
Key (TD)
Prodromou (Aero) - Stella (Track Ops) - Roberts (Factory)
Key's cars have been very strong mechanically and there is obvious synergy between his and Prodromou's outputs at McLaren. I sense a good partnership here.
And that's another one of the supposed "untouchables" gone from McLaren.
Let’s says this is a go-er, wrt Stella, obviously Zak on the Boullier announcement put him as being a triumvirate under him (next to Ferran etc), so you’d hope on joining he’d have had it explained that the structure will certainly change, turbulence etc, but he knew what his ultimate brief was...
On Roberts, interesting. Off the documentary I know I said he ‘looked’ uncomfortable doing the public talking after the promo. It’s obviously not the full picture of someone’s capability, but some people literally can’t stomach some of the things that go with the moving up the hierarchy. The expectation to talk to bigger crowds alone I’ve seen just fry some people and it’s easy to forget that maybe their best performing niche, was there not here. Roberts was announced by Brown as this COO with a wide brief, into him. But with gardening leave and some negotiations still to go it seems with Toro Rosso, it might be some time before we see Key come in, other roles then deflowered, all engineering in one place, names moved down a level etc.
Thanks again for that. Enlightening.
Edited by tigerkoi on Thursday 26th July 20:12
hairyben said:
I thought miserably low pay was across-the-board in F1? You're supposed to want to do it for the love.
Unless you're a newey or a Hamilton etc.
I remember reading an article penned by an ex-F1 guy who left F1 to start a carbon fibre based furniture company. He said he couldn't believe how out of whack even the most menial jobs were with the rest of industry as regards pay and he wasn't talking about F1 being low pay....Unless you're a newey or a Hamilton etc.
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