Anyone trying to explain why McLaren has returned to the fore of
Formula One—five wins in the last seven races heading into the
French Grand Prix on June 28—should look no further than
McLaren's enigmatic general manager of 14 years, Ron Dennis, who
plays Grand Prix racing's technological and personnel chess game
as well as anyone.
When F/1 instituted sweeping rules changes for 1998, including
the narrowing of the cars for less aerodynamic downforce and the
mandatory use of grooved tires for less grip on race surfaces,
the objective was to reduce racing speeds. The plan failed
because Dennis successfully countered. Anticipating the
modifications that the new rules would require, he lured master
design engineer Adrian Newey from archrival Williams last
August. Hiring Newey not only assured that McLaren would get a
jump in implementing the new design but also left Williams
groping.
Dennis also broke a long relationship with Goodyear, which was
lagging in the development of grooved tires, and took a gamble
on Bridgestone, an upstart to F/1 racing whose tires have shown
superior grip this season. For its crowning edge, McLaren owes
its 800-plus-horsepower engine—the most powerful on the
circuit—to Dennis, who in 1995 wooed Mercedes back into F/1 as
McLaren's engine supplier with the understanding that it would
take Mercedes several seasons of tinkering to achieve
superiority over other engines.
The benefactors of Dennis's strategic moves have been McLaren
drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard, who are first and
third, respectively, in the points standings. Hakkinen was
winless in F/1 until the final race of last season. His fortunes
have improved because Dennis knew that Hakkinen, given proper
equipment, could run with the best driver in the world,
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher. Hakkinen has four wins to
Schumacher's two this season.
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Issue date: June 22, 1998
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