Norris approves as McLaren ends long-term deal with major change now imminent
Toyota hopes to continue working with McLaren on its Formula 1 project despite the end of their wind tunnel agreement.
McLaren have used the wind tunnel at Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Europe's Cologne base since 2010. But that arrangement will finally conclude when the team's newly constructed tunnel at its Woking base goes online this month.
So, after a dozen years, McLaren will no longer need its arrangement with Toyota. But the Japanese carmaker is still hoping to keep working with the F1 team going forward.
"Our door remains open to McLaren," said TGR's managing director Rob Leupen. "We wish them nothing but success with the new wind tunnel.
"Whilst that naturally changes what services McLaren requires from TGR-E and how often their engineers are likely to be in Cologne, we have an open dialogue and are playing a constructive part in the process of integrating their new wind tunnel into their development programme.
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"I think on this activity we have clearly shown how TGR-E can add long-term value to top-level engineering projects, and we look forward to supporting innovative companies like McLaren in the future."
McLaren's new facility will play a role in the design of their 2024 challenger and those which follow. But their current MCL60 car and all its predecessors dating back to the MP4-26 used in 2011 were all developed in Toyota's Cologne wind tunnel.
Lando Norris feels this is an "exciting phase" for his McLaren team (Getty Images)And team principal Andrea Stella was keen to recognise the impact that deal has had. "He said "We have established a good working relationship between the McLaren team and the staff onsite at the facility, with their inhouse additive manufacturing capabilities and other onsite facilities being vital to the development process of our cars.
"As we move forward towards towards the commissioning of our on-site wind tunnel, which offers significant efficiencies to McLaren and aligns with the new structure being built at the team, we would like to recognise that the work done with the TGR-E wind tunnel has been instrumental in the team’s progress in the past and thank TGR-E for their invaluable support across this period."
A new wind tunnel is not the only notable change taking place in Woking. A new state-of-the-art simulator is also being put in place, while there have been key personnel changes such as Rob Marshall and David Sanchez, who will join from Red Bull and Ferrari respectively.
The modernisation of facilities and influx of fresh talent and perspective means driver Lando Norris sees it as an "exciting phase" for the team. He said: "Now, where are we on that story? It's hard to say because it's been so up and down, but I want to believe we're in the most exciting phase in terms of who we're about to have on board.
"The level of work and companionship we did at [the McLaren Technology Centre] on how they tried to develop the car, and their ambition to come up with new ideas – and a lot of that started, I guess since Andrea came in – there's been a big upward trend in vibe and atmosphere development.
"We have some good people that are coming from Ferrari, from Red Bull, people who have a lot of respect, knowledge, expertise in all of these different areas. So I'm looking forward to what's to come because I believe it's more exciting than where we could have been. They seem to have more knowledge and a clearer path of what really needs to change, and that gives me a lot of confidence."
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