The celebrations at McLaren abruptly paused after the team officially clinched the Constructors’ Championship in Singapore. The British squad had been celebrating this remarkable achievement for days, but an emotional moment unexpectedly interrupted the festivities, affecting everyone in the garage.
Touching words from McLaren COO: silence falls in the champions’ garage
The festivities were interrupted by McLaren’s Chief Operating Officer, Piers Thynne. According to a post shared on the social platform X, Thynne delivered a heartfelt speech to honor the memory of former colleague Gil de Ferran.
From 2018 to 2021, Gil de Ferran served as McLaren’s Sporting Director. Tragically, he passed away on December 29, 2023, after suffering a heart attack while testing a prototype on track. In his speech, Piers Thynne temporarily set aside the team’s joy and celebration to remember his friend and colleague.
Piers Thynne said, “I remember our dear friend Gil with absolute clarity; he was part of the foundation of our team’s culture. The Christmas before he passed, he told me, ‘Piers, what is absolutely fantastic is that this team has all the ingredients to succeed. All you need to do is find the right recipe.’
“So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to each and every one of you for finding the right recipe, not only last year but also this year. And certainly, we must continue to evolve it as we look forward to the next era of Formula 1. To conclude, I would like to propose a toast: to us, for having found the right recipe.”
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