F1: Beyond The Grid Piers Thynne: running McLaren's championship-winning factory
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Apr 22, 2025 Piers Thynne, Chief Operating Officer at McLaren, has been instrumental in the team’s revival since 2008. He shares how McLaren transformed from near the bottom in 2017 to championship contenders, attributing success to a culture of collaboration and a philosophy of getting 'comfortable with being uncomfortable.' Thynne also discusses the impact of drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, insights from his military background that shape F1 decision-making, and the challenges posed by new regulations and financial constraints in the sport.
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Flat Structure Drives Performance
- McLaren uses a flat organizational structure to enable rapid decision-making without bureaucracy.
- A collaborative culture focused on performance drives continuous improvement and success.
Share Context to Boost Output
- Share the context behind upgrade packages to energize and stretch all team members.
- Encourage concurrent work and creativity to accelerate delivery without sacrificing quality.
Learning from Military Agility
- McLaren benchmarks military organizations for agility and communication.
- Cross-industry learning helps F1 teams evolve beyond the typical sport bubble.