Walk Alone

I was first attracted to Formula 1 in 1998, mostly because of the gripping commentary provided by Overdrive - one of the finest car and bike magazines at the time. Hakkinen won his first F1 driver’s championship that year. Ron Dennis was being considered the shrewdest team principal around. Adrian Newey was on the team. Nine years later, quite a lot has changed - but McLaren is still my favorite F1 team. Since that time, one quote has stayed in mind - not that I remember many quotes, but this one expressed McLaren’s ethos very elegantly. I have no idea who said it or which source quoted it.

We make winning a science.

However, the team’s performance next year and later on made that statement seem like a politician’s election speech. McLaren seemed to lose their grasp of the first principles of racing science. It was Ferrari and lately, Renault carrying the champions while Toyota and Williams provided some side-show excitement.

That is, until this year.

You got to see Lewis Hamilton’s record to believe it. This is one racer that is making winning a science. Four podium finishes in the first four races of his Formula 1 career! And he has eclipsed Bruce Mclaren’s record as the youngest championship leader ever! What is a more fitting way to pay tribute to the creator of your F1 team?

This is one guy I’m betting on. Science rarely goes wrong.