In the Fast Lane with McLaren Racing: Reflecting on the F1 Season Opening Event
Last week at the Formula 1 (F1) season launch event in London, I had one of those moments that made me stop and take it all in. As the McLaren Formula One Team unveiled their breathtaking MCL39 livery, my eyes were immediately drawn to one spot — the tip of its nose — where Greene Tweed’s logo sits proudly, a small but mighty symbol on a masterpiece of engineering.
Surrounded by the vibrant energy, music, glitz, and glamour of F1’s 75th anniversary celebration, I eagerly watched all 10 teams unveil their 2025 liveries. But nothing compared to the pride I felt seeing our logo on the car of the reigning 2024 Constructors’ Champions. McLaren’s iconic design and sleek aerodynamic form gleamed under the spotlight, and it reminded me: this partnership is more than just a logo on a car.
When It Can’t Fail
Standing there amid the crowd of about 15,000 fans, I couldn’t help but feel the same energy fueling our new multiyear partnership built on a shared vision of engineering excellence. I was struck by how closely our values align. Just like McLaren, we have a long history of investing in innovative technologies to tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges head-on. Our customers depend on our advanced materials and high-performance components to operate safely in the world’s most demanding, ‘When it can’t fail’ environments. Neither of our teams are here to settle for good enough, we’re here to lead, innovate, and push the boundaries of engineering. What makes our technical cross-collaboration dynamic unique is our shared drive to win and Never Stop Racing. And it isn’t just about beating the competition, it’s about mastering our craft and striving to be the best at what we do.
From F1 to Your Factory Floor
Beyond our current synergies, we are inspired by the future possibilities. In anticipation of the 2026 F1 regulations, we’re jointly exploring how car components made of our advanced thermoplastic composite materials can make racing cars lighter, faster, and more efficient. Innovative car components developed through our work with McLaren have the potential to extend beyond the racetrack and the automotive sector, making a lasting impact in aerospace, energy, and several other industries.
Just a day before the F1 car launch, I visited the McLaren Technology Centre, which showcases the cutting-edge innovations and storied history of one of the most successful teams in F1. It wasn’t hard to imagine how we could use this environment to host technical collaboration sessions with our customers, and brainstorm solutions that address challenges in their future product roadmaps. To keep the creative juices flowing, we’d take high-octane breaks, such as McLaren’s signature pitstop challenge, where participants change the tires of an F1 car.
Crossing Finishing Lines Together
My love for Formula 1 began with Netflix’s Drive to Survive, but it was the thrill of experiencing the action live at the O2 that has turned me into a devoted fan for life. This weekend, I found myself diving into a different kind of racing – joining my son at the Pinewood Derby with a car we crafted together in McLaren’s iconic papaya color.
F1 is not just thrilling for me and my family, it resonates with our employees and customers as well. As we count down to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March and gear up for the 25-race season, we can already imagine the thrill of Greene Tweed’s logo shining on the racing car crossing the finish line first under the waving checkered flag.
