McLaren recruits Pat Fry again

The British engineer returns to the Woking team with immediate effect after a first stint between 1993 and 2010.

Published on 04/09/2018 à 16:02

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The commotion continues at McLaren. The day after the signing of Lando Norris in place of Stoffel Vandoorne for season 2019 of Formula 1, the British team announced that it had attracted into its ranks engineer Pat Fry with immediate effect.

McLaren can today confirm that Pat Fry will return to the team as our Engineering Director. pic.twitter.com/7ic1US38Op

- McLaren (@ McLarenF1) September 4, 2018

Pat Fry already knows the McLaren house, having contributed to the various world champion titles of Mika Häkkinen (1998, 1999) and Lewis Hamilton (2008). Arriving from Benetton in 1993, the engineer began his adventure at McLaren by leading the private testing team. In 1995, he became chief engineer of the racing team.

Among his feats of arms are: the development of the MP4-20, the McLaren driven by Kimi Räikkönen in 2005 (vice-champion) or the MP4-22 (Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso missed the title by one point in 2007). Left at Ferrari in May 2010, Pat Fry will remain for four years, notably as chassis director.

The McLaren MP4-20 driven by Pedro de la Rosa in Canada. © Mateusz

Ousted during the restructuring phase at the end of 2014 in the Scuderia, Pat Fry had since taken a step back, remaining only a few months as an engineering consultant for Manor Racing.

On the McLaren side, the hierarchy has completely changed in recent months, with the departures of Éric Boullier (former team director), chief technician Tim Goss and chief engineer Matt Morris. James Key, engineer currently at Toro Rosso, is due to join the McLaren staff next winter.