Inside McLaren: An Engineer's Story of Working in F1's Golden Era

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

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Today we are lucky to have Matthew Jeffreys sit down and share his memories of working at McLaren Formula 1 from the late 1970s until the early 2000s. In a period that featured almost all of McLaren's F1 championships, Matthew is uniquely positioned to tell the often untold story of many different designers and how they did what they did.
Chapter Listing:
0:00 Introduction
2:15 First F1 Races
5:37 Turning a Summer Job into a Career
8:08 McLaren Racing becomes McLaren International
9:39 John Barnard
13:14 The Staff in 1983
15:05 Steve Nichols
18:35 The Ideal Team Size
20:51 The Disastrous Refuelling Rig
24:15 John's Carbon Car
26:04 The Porsche TAG Turbo Engine
28:12 Crash Testing
31:20 MP4/2B
33:35 Barnard Leaves
36:41 Neil Oatley and Gordon Murray
40:50 MP4/3
42:43 The MP4/4 and Ayrton Senna
45:26 Honda V6 Turbo
47:18 Different Schools of Thought
49:07 Memories of Ayrton Senna
54:18 Alain Prost
56:00 Once the Season Starts...
57:36 Steve Leaves, MP4/5 Design Begins
60:29 The Stress and Excitement of F1
61:36 The V12 MP4/6
66:07 MP4/7 and Honda Leaves
68:05 Ford Power and the MP4/8
72:41 1994
78:25 McLaren Stumbles
79:48 Adrian Newey Arrives
88:17 1998 - Return to Form
90:22 Adrian Goes Too Far
94:31 Summary
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Пікірлер: 133

  • @JayEmmOnCars
    @JayEmmOnCars5 ай бұрын

    CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm

  • @lesliejames9404
    @lesliejames94045 ай бұрын

    Dear Jay, You are literally preserving Formula 1 history. These videos are absolute gold. Thank you, seems insufficient for your efforts.

  • @AndyRRR0791

    @AndyRRR0791

    5 ай бұрын

    It's James, or Mr Martin to you. Yes, little Jimmy is doing a great job knocking up these things. It's easier to overlook the stilted editing style when there's a great yarn supporting it.

  • @sklyrovka

    @sklyrovka

    5 ай бұрын

    Yeah, it's basically a public service at this point. He knows these videos will never break even with the hours he'll have to sink into them. Thank you!

  • @JayEmmOnCars

    @JayEmmOnCars

    5 ай бұрын

    They're a pleasure

  • @geraint8989
    @geraint89895 ай бұрын

    Your excellent vid of Steve Nichols countering Gordon Murray’s version of events - including *that* McLaren letter from the 90s - was a real eye-opener.

  • @dellhell8842
    @dellhell88425 ай бұрын

    Excellent Jay. Let the man talk. Wish more interviews were like this.

  • @DavidVerch

    @DavidVerch

    5 ай бұрын

    Yes, so many interviewers interrupt. All of these are just the guys thinking and telling the interesting stories.

  • @ihsanjayadi88
    @ihsanjayadi885 ай бұрын

    Your feature length F1 videos are my favorites. Lots of people can make car reviews, but very few or even none can make this deep interviews into the fascinating world of F1 history.

  • @theleakypost
    @theleakypost5 ай бұрын

    After watching the MP4/4 video last year, I contacted Matthew and I am now the proud owner of two prints of my favourite F1 cars, the aforementioned MP4/4 and the Jordan 191. They have pride of place on the walls of my office. Matthew was an absolute pleasure to deal with. I can highly recommend them to any F1 enthusiast.

  • @mikewa2

    @mikewa2

    5 ай бұрын

    Jay, this is a fantastic insight as to working in ‘silo’ is about. All companies need to get staff talking to each other. You only improve if you keep on talking.!! The pub reference was so spot on, more problems sorted out in the pub than on the shop floor, so so true! Silo work in is so 20th century. My wife recently had to ‘hot desk’ and this brought about so much new initiatives and undid previous misconceptions. Management of staff and span of reporting needs to be reviewed. So many companies not managed in smart and clever ways. Ai will help but only if the User knows how to use it!

  • @cervezagratuita2253
    @cervezagratuita22535 ай бұрын

    This HAS to stay a tradition! What a truly fantastic video!

  • @madscimedia
    @madscimedia5 ай бұрын

    Mr Jeffreys’ art prints are extremely beautiful! Highly recommend buying one.

  • @gilvansouza
    @gilvansouza3 ай бұрын

    OMG this is gold. The work experience anecdote with Prost and Senna was hilarious. What a great interview!

  • @alexmo1176
    @alexmo11765 ай бұрын

    This is definitely more interesting content than the usual look at drivers, their teams and the hoopla surrounding F1. This is the real story behind F1 and how it can exist today. These men and their talents are the real stars of F1 racing!

  • @MWPompert
    @MWPompert5 ай бұрын

    This is an absolute historical goldmine, thanks so much to you for building up this documentary with key McLaren personnel that helps put into perspective what had been some of my first memories of F1, Senna and Prost at McLaren, and how the team behind the scenes was operating. Bravo!

  • @andrewsmith-jf6ou
    @andrewsmith-jf6ou5 ай бұрын

    Jay, you bagged an exclusive bit of history. Well done Andy.

  • @stephencurry8552
    @stephencurry85525 ай бұрын

    Awesome. I have re-watched the Video with Mr. Nichols as there is so much detail to absorb.

  • @andrewwhittaker4097
    @andrewwhittaker40975 ай бұрын

    The mp4/6 is my favourite design of the early 90's period plus that yellow helmet thanks Jay

  • @oneeleven9832
    @oneeleven98325 ай бұрын

    Thought I’d watch half an hour before starting my day…couldn’t turn it off now im late for everything 🤦‍♂️..what a riveting interview 👏👏 & expertly put together 👍

  • @ernied3123
    @ernied31235 ай бұрын

    Thanks James for another awesome long form interview with such a legend. Cheers.

  • @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    5 ай бұрын

    Just one cog in a great machine 😊

  • @wharris123184
    @wharris1231845 ай бұрын

    This is an early Christmas gift! 🎄

  • @09juliancarr
    @09juliancarr5 ай бұрын

    Matt is a fantastic guy and I now have just received two of his prints… they are fantastic and of the highest quality. Cannot recommend them highly enough!

  • @ianmargetts9163
    @ianmargetts91635 ай бұрын

    Dude, that was like a great book. You want to do something else, but you can't put it down until you've got to the end! What an interesting insight into the f1 of yesteryear..

  • @blackdoublezero
    @blackdoublezero5 ай бұрын

    what a nice man & with a pleasing lack of ego

  • @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    5 ай бұрын

    😊

  • @RacingWithChuck27
    @RacingWithChuck275 ай бұрын

    This is a perfect example of being at the right place at the right time.

  • @AntoniusTyas
    @AntoniusTyas5 ай бұрын

    James' Christmas Specials are getting better, it seems. An absolute gem for me as an F1 fan

  • @kyronrc
    @kyronrc5 ай бұрын

    Jay, I’d like to thank you for this. Even though these videos aren’t popular compared to other type of videos, you still put the hassle and deliver it. Amazing work my friend ✌🏻️

  • @jackytwix
    @jackytwix4 ай бұрын

    Absolutely crackng insight into one of the best eras of F1. I could listen/watch this stuff for ever and still not get bored of it. Do remember hearing a story about Williams in what must of been 1984 looking into the Crash test regulatuions for 1985. Instead of building a drop rig tower like Matthew designed, they came up with a little less high-tech solution. Williams borrowed a long ladder from a local scaffolding firm. Pulled a spare chassis up on a rope onto the roof of the Williams factory and dropped it off the side of the building !!!!! Similar to Mclaren it didnt fare well as at the time the FW09 Chassis was still built in more 'traditonal ' methods of honeycomb aluminium with carbon fibre strengthners. By the time it had come to rest on the floor the entire monocoque was less than 14 iches in length!! Thats when Williams realised they had to build a full carbon fibre chassis car.

  • @JJ-zg1hh
    @JJ-zg1hh5 ай бұрын

    Hit "like" before even watching this. No brainer.

  • @sambailey7740
    @sambailey77405 ай бұрын

    shout out to my old man Ray Wilmott who was one of them mechanics who work with them legends

  • @andybils6141
    @andybils61415 ай бұрын

    Wow Jay! and thanks for the amazing work you do 👍🏻

  • @yanceehardy6006
    @yanceehardy60065 ай бұрын

    That was exceptional. Thank you so much. Matthew Jeffereys has an incredible history. Hearing him recount some of it is absolutely phenomenal. Again thank you.

  • @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    5 ай бұрын

    Thank you Yancee

  • @arijyva790
    @arijyva7904 ай бұрын

    Half way thru and I can state already one of the Best interviews of the century.

  • @jn904
    @jn9045 ай бұрын

    Exceptional. You and Davide Cironi are the Santa Claus of the Motorsport History on YT. 👏

  • @JayEmmOnCars

    @JayEmmOnCars

    5 ай бұрын

    I love Davide's stuff!

  • @wadehampton4499
    @wadehampton44992 ай бұрын

    A truly great recollection of a wonderful period in F1 and at McLaren. So much is owed to the drive, vision and quest for perfection of Ron Dennis. I cannot recall anyone who has done so much for British industry, technology and motor sport who has not then been honoured with, at the very least, a KCMG. Why is he not Sir Ron Dennis ?

  • @X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X
    @X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X5 ай бұрын

    What a great video - thank you Mr. Jeffreys!

  • @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    5 ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @Santoshlv426
    @Santoshlv4265 ай бұрын

    Fantastic video and interview. It's not often that one can listed to what is a lecture and someone recontouring their lives for 80-90mins but if it's clear, concise, correct and interesting and conveyed with alacrity it's thoroughly engaging. I found both the engineering aspects and F1 history enjoyable. We need more of these videos and I would like to see the development of the Rothmans Williams FW18 ! which Damon Hill drove to victory in 1996.

  • @DavidVerch
    @DavidVerch5 ай бұрын

    These are awesome interviews, you just let them talk and tell the fascinating stories. Please do more of these.

  • @christinalloyd9566
    @christinalloyd95665 ай бұрын

    Nice video. Thanks for that. I was involved in F1 later than when Matthew started. I had the opportunity to go into F1 in the late 80s but it didn't fit in with my lifestyle then. I totally agree with him that over the years in F1 things have become a lot more specialised for engineers which is a real shame and probably to the detriment of the teams. I was lucky in my time as an engineer in F1 to be involved in engines, transmissions, suspension, wind tunnel architecture and various other bits too which made life very interesting and I'm grateful to have had that opportunity.

  • @jamesstanley7263
    @jamesstanley72635 ай бұрын

    The MP4/6 is perfection in every way

  • @jesseshaffer6105
    @jesseshaffer61054 ай бұрын

    I wish I could like this about 100,000 times. These stories are invaluable.

  • @hernanhernandez3861
    @hernanhernandez38615 ай бұрын

    This was fantastic. Love to attend the reunion event.

  • @Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab
    @Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab5 ай бұрын

    Wow! Another unexpected McLaren Easter Egg (at Christmas!) Thanks James, great video and Matthew is fascinating to listen to. 👍🏻10/10

  • @DugTheDog
    @DugTheDog2 ай бұрын

    Fantastic series! So happy this has become an ongoing theme, cheers! :D

  • @1919champ
    @1919champ5 ай бұрын

    Thank you for doing this. Terrific stuff.

  • @StephenLee529
    @StephenLee5295 ай бұрын

    So glad that you got to document this…

  • @pierregibello7457
    @pierregibello74575 ай бұрын

    Masterfully produced video. Thanks for capturing a page of F1 engineering history.

  • @craigmclaughlin7870
    @craigmclaughlin78705 ай бұрын

    Please more content like this and less car reviews… this is an important niche you are serving keep up the great work!

  • @simes205
    @simes2055 ай бұрын

    Fab. I have one of Matthews prints of the mp4/4 signed by Alain Prost……it’s stunning and you wouldn’t be disappointed.

  • @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    5 ай бұрын

    😊

  • @parassahai
    @parassahai5 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing such incredible interviews.. love from India. Having watched these guys faintly in my childhood, it’s great to now understand and hear them about their lives. Wish if we can ever meet them some day

  • @gr0wler147
    @gr0wler1475 ай бұрын

    Really loved the effort to bring and reveal the history here.

  • @fredarvemonsen9805
    @fredarvemonsen98055 ай бұрын

    oh.. it's so lovely to listen to this history .! Thank you!🙏🏁

  • @richspjones
    @richspjones5 ай бұрын

    This is fantastic; thanks to you and Matthew for putting the effort in to create this hugely engaging video. It makes the ownership of my MP4-4 print from Matthew (purchased with your code) even more special. Bravo!

  • @JeLifeCoach
    @JeLifeCoach4 ай бұрын

    His praise of Newey is incredible and compelling.

  • @GDH1981
    @GDH19815 ай бұрын

    Looking forward to watching this later. Big fan of these videos

  • @rhodaborrocks1654
    @rhodaborrocks16545 ай бұрын

    That was brilliant, thank you so much for this !!

  • @Fmontes
    @Fmontes5 ай бұрын

    Wonderful - thank you for this. I fell in love with F1 in 1983, when I caught a broadcast of the Belgian GP (Spa) on ESPN with horrible audio quality and Jackie Stewart broadcasting. Up until a few years ago, I had adored the sport. It's definitely changed for the worse, but glad I got to grow up a fan during the "Golden Age."

  • @nicktheengineer5976
    @nicktheengineer59765 ай бұрын

    Absolutely fantastic! Thank you so much for this

  • @paulleggett9735
    @paulleggett97355 ай бұрын

    Bloody brilliant! Thanks for making it.

  • @ivanjulian2532
    @ivanjulian25325 ай бұрын

    What a gem of a video. I can't thank you enough for making it.

  • @superfast30
    @superfast305 ай бұрын

    Absolutely amazing. Thank you for this!

  • @londonman8688
    @londonman86885 ай бұрын

    what a gentleman

  • @jonbeno9926
    @jonbeno99264 ай бұрын

    An incredible story, loved every minute. Please do more of these!

  • @markdavis2475
    @markdavis24755 ай бұрын

    Absolutely fascinating! Thanks for this priceless content!

  • @johnmull59
    @johnmull595 ай бұрын

    Excellent, thank you.

  • @user-nr6zx8bc2y
    @user-nr6zx8bc2y5 ай бұрын

    Absolutely fascinating insight that I could have listened to for many more hours … Mr Jeffrey’s comes across as a thoroughly decent guy without a bad word said of anybody … He is obviously a fan of his former colleague Steve Nichols but some comments on Gordon Murray’s working methods and style would have offered a further insightful view of McLaren at this time in my opinion. Best video I’ve seen in quite some time, thank you

  • @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    5 ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @simon8723
    @simon87235 ай бұрын

    How did I miss this? What a gem! Would have been interesting to hear how Mansell managed his comeback at McLaren- albeit short lived.

  • @LaurieButt
    @LaurieButt5 ай бұрын

    Thanks for this video, it's fantastic. Really in depth interview, I just loved it ! :)

  • @stephenwall9036
    @stephenwall90365 ай бұрын

    I'm loving these historical in depth interviews you're doing Jay!

  • @DIYPrecisionTool
    @DIYPrecisionTool5 ай бұрын

    Spectacularly done!! Thank you!

  • @grantsnell6782
    @grantsnell67825 ай бұрын

    These videos are an example of KZread at its best!

  • @rollotomassi8251
    @rollotomassi82514 ай бұрын

    This is oral history and it lives on The internet forever Briljant work!

  • @johnmorrison27
    @johnmorrison275 ай бұрын

    Brilliant F1 content as always 👍👍

  • @crimsonwolf0428
    @crimsonwolf04285 ай бұрын

    Amazing content James! Great stories from Matthew Jeffreys!

  • @DuncanCunningham
    @DuncanCunningham5 ай бұрын

    Excellent. If you can do more with McLaren. Or maybe other teams. David Brown, engineer for Williams back in the day would be great. I love what you’ve done here. Interview technique like Mario Muth. It’s nice to just hear the person you’ve found. Less jarring, you get used to them and it’s relaxing too. Jay, great work. I know this took a lot of effort, time and patience.

  • @michaelrodgers994
    @michaelrodgers9945 ай бұрын

    Great interview really really interesting behind the scenes stories 👍👍

  • @MartinBaldock
    @MartinBaldock5 ай бұрын

    Thankyou so much for this, truly fascinating stuff!

  • @gluca069just___it9
    @gluca069just___it95 ай бұрын

    The semi automatic transmission was a Mauro Forghieri invention. Villeneuve did not like to have it on the car and therefore was parked until Barnard found it at Ferrari F1 design office when he joined Ferrari and he gave it a go.

  • @timakimat
    @timakimat5 ай бұрын

    This is amazing stuff, thanks.

  • @truebluemiata
    @truebluemiata5 ай бұрын

    Bravo James! What a great piece of automotive history, and told by such a down to earth guy. Thank you.

  • @87yugo74
    @87yugo745 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing

  • @andreasd6857
    @andreasd68575 ай бұрын

    wow this was fascinating hearing from Matthew as an insider, thank you 👍👍

  • @damjanule9083
    @damjanule90835 ай бұрын

    Looks like Christmas came early! Thank you Jay!

  • @markwilliams9318
    @markwilliams93185 ай бұрын

    Brilliant interview...what about John Barnard next...😊

  • @alfabethev2.074
    @alfabethev2.0744 ай бұрын

    Lovely story ! Tnx!

  • @shitoryu8
    @shitoryu84 ай бұрын

    Absolutely fascinating 👏

  • @PaulinhoThompson
    @PaulinhoThompson5 ай бұрын

    Thank you kind sir, that was beautiful.

  • @englishmaninfrance661
    @englishmaninfrance6615 ай бұрын

    I had a 1973 Davrian MK5 . This was a fibreglass monocoque long before anybody else thought about mnocoque . Fantastic car , the roof line just came up to my waist I'm 6ft 3 but I lay down in this car and there was plenty of room Went round corners on rails

  • @Cloxxki
    @Cloxxki5 ай бұрын

    I hope the people who spent time at (or bearing the name) Williams will see these videos and realize that Jay is the man to speak to, to tell some stories. Jonathan did a good interview with Chris Harris recently, just to help sell a single car. There's a lot more where that came from. We don't have Sir Frank anymore, but many people who've worked and lived with him. Added to the engineering side, there is the family side.

  • @frictionstreaker
    @frictionstreaker5 ай бұрын

    How do i order the senna and Ron Dennis signed print

  • @Koziolrh
    @Koziolrh5 ай бұрын

    Good stuff

  • @pauly1605
    @pauly16055 ай бұрын

    Awesome!

  • @chrisandrews610
    @chrisandrews6105 ай бұрын

    What's crazy is you can argue automotive design peaked in this era, but we can't go back. I think we've sacrificed too much to the idea of ever increasing efficiency and tech.

  • @mrwinstonwolfe
    @mrwinstonwolfe4 ай бұрын

    On a lighter note Mathew could be the only person to decline an opportunity to have dinner with Ayrton Senna lol

  • @biastv1234
    @biastv12345 ай бұрын

    Fantastic

  • @todmarketstar8449
    @todmarketstar84495 ай бұрын

    Quite certain this has been previously suggested, but is there a Mega-Like option? Because one like is not enough! Thank you!!

  • @cjdelmonte6036
    @cjdelmonte60365 ай бұрын

    Great Doc Jay! Do you get the go ahead for this from current McLaren? (Zak) or do these legends get a deserved free reign?

  • @grahamhufton7715
    @grahamhufton77155 ай бұрын

    love these long-form autobios! pun intended

  • @Cloxxki
    @Cloxxki5 ай бұрын

    All I can ask for, is more.

  • @markscarborough1018
    @markscarborough10185 ай бұрын

    Far more interesting than the entire F1 2023 season!

  • @jamesrobert4106
    @jamesrobert41065 ай бұрын

    A pressurised vessel for refuelling and they didn't think about a vent pipe. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

  • @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    5 ай бұрын

    As I said, there was of course a vent pipe, the mechanic was just a fraction slow getting it on before the fuel went in!

  • @markevans1127
    @markevans11275 ай бұрын

    Was the Mp4 4 an evolution of an earlier chassis or was it a clean sheet design. If it wasn’t then who designed the original

  • @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    5 ай бұрын

    It evolved logically from the MP4/3

  • @claudiusconruton2720

    @claudiusconruton2720

    2 ай бұрын

    Was built on the Brabham BT 55 design Gorden Murray got Honda to make the engine 27mm lower and also the 3 shaft gearbox to line the engine up with the diff Gorden was in charge and all worked under him

  • @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    @MatthewJeffreys-zc9eb

    2 ай бұрын

    Actually Claudius, although that's a common belief, it was not like as you describe it at all. Please take a look at Jayemmoncars's other interviews.

  • @WretchedHobbit
    @WretchedHobbit5 ай бұрын

    Wow

  • @tonyadeney1245
    @tonyadeney1245Ай бұрын

    nice drawings tick ----

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