Back At Base S2: 3. Mission Control

Feb 5, 2025

Tension rises at McLaren as they edge closer to a championship title after thrilling races at Zandvoort and Monza. Team dynamics between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are scrutinized, highlighting a unique racing philosophy. Meanwhile, Aston Martin's Ben Fitzgerald focuses on enhancing car performance through meticulous production work. Listeners gain rare insights into McLaren's Mission Control, revealing the intense atmosphere and decision-making during race weekends. The intricate world of carbon fiber manufacturing and the emotional challenges faced by drivers come into sharp focus.

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INSIGHT

McLaren's Driver Philosophy

McLaren allows their drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, to race freely.
This philosophy has created some tension as the team gets closer to a title.

ANECDOTE

McLaren's History of Driver Rivalries

McLaren's history includes intense driver rivalries, like Senna and Prost.
This highlights the team's approach of treating drivers equally.

ADVICE

Car Maintenance

Regularly service and maintain car components, just like a road car.
This ensures robust reliability, which translates to performance and points.

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Tension is building inside the McLaren factory. The team is closer to a title than they have been for 12 years and, after dramatic races in Zandvoort and Monza, there is much to discuss. Not least the team’s philosophy that allows their drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, to freely race each other. Team Principal Andrea Stella has returned to the factory to consider whether there now needs to be a change of policy.

While Stella smooths out any wrinkles caused by the battling teammates, Production Director Ross Hood is assessing the cars ahead of the next two races in Azerbaijan and Singapore. The MCL-38s are now back at base for a service in between races.

At Aston Martin, there is also continued work going on in production. The team’s Chief Operating Officer Ben Fitzgerald is fixated on speeding up the production of the car’s floor - with the hope that it will also increase performance on track for drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso. These small gains on track come from highly-detailed work back at base - and the next race is fast approaching, around the ancient city walls of Baku.

From Azerbaijan, the Formula 1 field flies on to Singapore, for the sport’s original night race. But, for the first time in our series, we will hear what happens inside an F1 factory during a grand prix weekend. F1 experts Holly Samos and Sarah Holt are visiting the McLaren Technology Centre. They have been given rare access to see inside Mission Control. This top-secret room connects the factory with the track through an exchange of detailed data which flows back and forth at high speed. But will it help the team secure victory in Singapore?

The racing around Singapore’s bumpy street circuit is unpredictable, and often attritional. Sarah and Holly will witness how McLaren’s qualifying and race unfolds from the heart of the team’s inner sanctum. With two Championships on the line, the stakes are high.

Fresh from a red-eye flight from Singapore, Aston Martin reserve driver, Stoffel Vandoorne, is already back in the team’s simulator. Here – hunkered down in the cockpit of a giant driving rig – he’s laying the groundwork for the final six races of the season. In the high-paced world of F1, the chase for pure speed never ends.

F1:Back at Base is narrated by Josh Hartnett. It is created and produced by Sarah Holt and Holly Samos and is an IMG Production for the BBC.