Inside McLaren’s £300M+ HQ with F1 Driver Lando Norris | All Access | GQ Sports

McLaren F1 Driver Lando Norris and GQ's Deputy Global Editorial Director Adam Baidawi takes us on an exclusive tour of McLaren's Technology Centre in Woking, England. From "The Boulevard" to to all the top secret work McLaren has planned for racing in 2023, Lando and Adam leave no stone left unturned in this episode of All Access.
00:00 All Access at McLaren's HQ
00:39 McLaren Technology Centre
01:18 Special Guest...
01:26 Lando Norris
01:45 The Boulevard
02:35 The McLaren F1
03:11 Ayrton Senna
04:14 Lando's Faves
04:40 Star Wars?
04:56 Lando's First Time at HQ
05:17 Lego McLaren
05:41 The Trophies
06:02 Monaco Grand Prix
07:03 TOP SECRET
08:19 "Are you building a space rocket?"
08:43 F1 $$$
09:14 Surface and Brand Technology
10:10 The Race Space
10:21 Jono Brookes
11:04 Bye, Lando!
11:18 The VVIP Lounge
11:50 Shane Harman
11:58 Make Your Own Artura!
13:07 What Do High-Rollers Want?
14:18 Artura Creation
14:44 McLaren Individuality
15:13 Monsoon Test
15:35 The Lightest Car
15:57 Dynamic Testing
16:13 Paint Shop
16:47 Badging
17:07 Finished Artura
17:26 Test Drive
19:50 Grand Finale
With GQ Sports, the real action is off the field. Get an all-access pass to the world's coolest, most stylish athletes with original series like My Essentials, Actually Me, My First Million, Game Points & More. Watch a GQ editor try his hand at pro sports in Above Average Joe. And get an all-access look into how athletes shop, train, travel, and showcase their love of style, menswear, and sneakers.

[@CarlsWheezing]

GQ.... PLEASE do this with every team.

[@aaronyelle]

yes, That's right

[@rinaalmero2644]

Yes please

[@rhonita]

Pleaaaaasseeeeeewe 😭😭😭😭😭

[@FaceFish9]

propably most teams don't do these kinds of things sadly

[@travismanon783]

It Don’t Hurt To Ask 👍 So please ASK

[@vicavell1]

Like Carlos said: How is this team not winning

[@elijahalpern159]

Always seems like they got top notch facilities but sub-par car development

[@PedrocamaroSS]

@@elijahalpern159 right now it's lacking one of the most important top notch facilities. A wind tunnel

[@dunanub8725]

Well their race cars are like their road cars. They are fast on the rare occasion they don't break down

[@PedrocamaroSS]

@@dunanub8725 Ferrari breaks, Lamborghini breaks, you're daily driver breaks. some have luck and nothing happens others get the problems more times, what can you do? same with everyting you buy

[@dormi_torio]

@@PedrocamaroSS correct, but some cars last longer than others. That’s what he’s getting at

[@DtEarth1]

This is why Lando is my favorite driver. He does these types of things and looks like he's enjoying it. Not that he's forced to.

[@HLDN1989]

Going down an F1 rabbit hole as a new fan. This was super interesting and would love to see more with other teams!

[@thepinhead908]

Looking at their pace this year there was really no need to blur anything😂

[@24mcryler41]

Kinda has to lol😂

[@keffa7044]

😂

[@mikeyfarr2440]

This aged well 😂

[@ciara2837]

@@mikeyfarr2440 ikr, theyre cooking up something now

[@presidentofsudan287]

aged terribly

[@gold333]

Very few people know that the only F1car to ever win the F1 world championship with a V12 engine was the McLaren MP4/6 in 1991. No other V12 engine F1 car has ever won the championship. Coincidentally MP4/6 was also the last ever F1 car to win the F1 championship with a manual gearbox. Also Senna's last championship winning car. Such a special car on so many levels. Statistically the "best" drivers car of history in that regard. I wish McLaren realized this as much as the world does.

[@kennedyshotfirst2534]

Wasn't the 312 a v12? Edit: Nevermind, it's a flat 12

[@RAZGR1Z]

That McLaren team died a while ago, lad.

[@niko7903]

@@kennedyshotfirst2534 The 312 was indeed a V12, not a Flat 12. I believe you're thinking of the Ferrari 1512, which was a 180 degree (flat) 12 that some still technically consider a V, I'm more inclined to call it a flat 12, but certainly not a boxer (and there is even a Ferrari "boxer" road car that is certainly not a boxer engine, too). However, the OP only noted that the Honda V12 in the McLaren was the only V12 to win the F1 championship. There have been several V12 engines in F1, but Honda has the only championship winning V12.

[@kennedyshotfirst2534]

@@niko7903 Sorry, i meant the 312t and t2 which i've seen refered to as a flat 12 or a v12 with 180°. Maybe it's a technicality or something (idk, not an engineer).

[@niko7903]

@@kennedyshotfirst2534 No need to be sorry, I probably should've thought you were referring to 312T, I forgot those were Flat 12s, and I don't really understand why the 1512 is contested by some to be technically a V12 while being 180 degree, but the 312T seems to not have much question about being a Flat 12. I'm going to try to research it a bit, it seems to just be the manner of the crankshaft, but usually arguments on flat engines are just flat vs boxer, to me if the engine banks are 180 degree it is a flat, and a boxer if the pistons have separate crank pins to enable pistons on opposite banks going in and out at same time. I'm no engineer, either. I believe the T2 is a 75 degree V12, though. Cheers.

[@jackstein9986]

Really loved watching this! I'm an avid F1 fan and have been for years and it's rare to get this behind the scenes access!

[@haribo836]

My thoughts exactly. Started in the early 90's as a McLaren fan and haven't seen such a complete tour.

[@RightAnsw3r]

Him saying Monaco is the most fun to watch…

[@thatonenigeriansformula]

I can see monaco being fun to watch

[@witnessg431]

I had to replay that bit to make sure I heard him right.

[@xKrypto98x]

and that Senna is the GOAT lol

[@epicgamerchannel6230]

@@xKrypto98x tbf calling senna the goat isn't an awful take compared to saying monaco's the most fun to watch

[@jackcampbell2787]

Was looking for this comment

[@vinhluu2154]

Swapping out the replica (5:43) for the real trophy was Max's suggestion😆He originally gave that advice to Daniel in their final 2018 "On the Couch" episode.

[@niko7903]

Yeah, and I believe Lewis was always quite miffed that he had to contractually let McLaren keep all the originals and he had to settle for the replicas.

[@larsandersen4727]

@@niko7903 I belive it was one of the reasons he wanted to leave McLaren

[@indopleaser]

For non F1 Fans: this is the most in depth exciting thing going

[@kentgulliford]

this was an amazing and unexpected treat for someone who went down an F1 youtube rabbit hole. great content.

[@MJK_420]

Ah people of culture. F1 rabbit hole club haha

[@annanymous03]

Late to the party, but same here. 2 weeks into the rabbit hole and here I am

[@realtrill5318]

bro called Monaco the most fun race to watch

[@Gr33nMamba]

Everyone watching thinking, you mean the complete opposite surely. It's a DRS Train fest with the worst independent TV director, completely pointless to watch.

[@rayhanansari1506]

'what's setting you back these days? A think a small 25 million" had me laughing

[@rayRay-pw6gz]

What is amazing when you follow the history of these racing teams. The attention to every small detail to advance and compete . What a great job working here .

[@rhyswilliams4893]

An entrance the f1 20 year ago. The place looks modern AF but their wind tunnel is considered "old"

[@psychedelicacynical]

10:32 I just realised how focused and serious Lando looks here, and it's taking some getting use to..

[@theversatile8151]

This is so sick!!! so much history

[@nicolai8808]

Crazy to think neymar price was €222mill and the HQ is £300mill.

[@showaldinho]

Its not crazy actually, you can get the hq built for a lot less in some countries, but, good luck building a neymar in 2 years with money :)

[@mitzy123]

It was built in 1998. I'm sure it would cost almost a billion today with inflation

[@niko7903]

@@mitzy123 Well, they sold it in 2021 in a sale-leaseback transaction for £170 million. I don't know how that factors in the total value of it, considering that McLaren are contracted to pay rent for 20 years. Also, might not be the easiest building to sell, considering what it was designed for.

[@ukqwerty999]

@@niko7903 Seems like the beggining of the end if they need funds that badly, some Museum cars gone also apparently

[@ryndrssn]

Would you rather: Neymar or McLaren HQ

[@Jackbyrne77]

It’s very interesting to hear Lando speak of the older eras of F1. What is different to drivers of the past is that when they would talk of the old cars it was more of a novelty, whereas now, drivers increasingly show that they’d actually prefer to drive the cars of the past. Better looking, smaller, lighter, louder. It’s properly sad to see current drivers risk injury and financial ruin, only to then get to F1 with the cars we have today (massive, heavy, hybridised and halo device fitted). It’s strange to say, but part of me feels sorry for them, because they’ll never get to race the type of cars that got them interested in the sport to begin with.

[@CallumIsRaving]

You were doing so well until you criticised the halo. Romain Grosjean and Zhou Guanyu have already had their lives saved by the halo.. its the easiest compromise ever for the safety benefits it brings in exchange for taking a small hit in terms of design.

[@anthonysmalawipredators8794]

This video format is incredible not to mention the actual content; superb!

[@zein_m9188]

4:00 Lando said that he had a preference for the senna era 1975-1985 but Senna only joined mclaren in 88. Before that he had driven for Toleman and Lotus.

[@rohanempire1212]

Love the star wars style credits, subtle but amazing. love the episode

[@simonbellamy67]

That was amazing so much access. Cool walkaround my man I really enjoyed that now do all the teams.....😮

[@natedole8276]

4:52 woah that is blowing my mind. How did I not notice that?

[@CYMotorsport]

Adam, welcome back to Motorsports. I distinctly remember where I was when I read your Gumball 3000 piece what seems like a lifetime ago. Cars suit you mate, hoping for more of this.

[@SamanthaKavuma]

Please do more of these!!!

[@Elegant_Leg]

This guy saying Monaco GP is the most fun to watch! Cmon mate

[@maza19]

Talking about Senna's SPECIFIC car and showing like five different models. The one that Lando shows though is Senna's 1988 MP4/4. He won his first title and along with Prost they won 15 of the 16 races that season for McLaren

[@gkscoob1507]

McLaren has the best factory hq out of every team.

[@MudCrabber]

Been watching F1 for decades and this was pretty interesting

[@mrboyban]

Prost and Senna were undoubtedly the most expressive drivers in the Mclaren team.

[@teutone5866]

It's an amazing complex. It would be nice if McLaren still owned the complex. A few years back, the complex was sold to a UK commercial real estate co, and leased by McLaren. Whether it had to do with buying out Ron Dennis, who knows?

[@lordcarrot5355]

weird little note, that song that plays at around 14:30 is hard heart by elliot holmes. I added that song to my playlist years ago and when it came on I immideatly recognized it. The guy only has like 12k monthly listeners on spotify that's wild to me.

[@dpmakestuff]

Quite a magnificent facility for a back marker team.

[@IamYuto]

say again

[@dpmakestuff]

@@IamYuto i jest! I jest! I love McLaren.

[@sprocket-YT]

0:07 when you notice all the punch marks on the walls...... Lando chill lol

[@artur.j.r]

Best video I've watched this month

[@BRZZN]

The orange F1 LM MY FAV.

[@evavagyok2523]

this is so cool i learnd more than i learned in school lol

[@AM-qt4ng]

Fun fact about the floor. Ron Dennis couldn't stand having different shades of grey and white so when they get damaged they get replaced with exactly the same one.

[@rumblefish9]

Good thing Ron Dennis doesn't run the team anymore

[@AM-qt4ng]

@@rumblefish9 He was the reason they had success though

[@georgewba6245]

@@rumblefish9McLaren wouldn’t have been what they were if it wasn’t for Ron

[@gabrielabatres]

Absolutely loved this video! ✨✨

[@MattyMcDoodle]

Was lucky enough to go to the MTC a couple of years ago. Absolutely mind blowing place 🙌

[@roeoneill9158]

how do you get to go? its like my number 1 thing i ever want to do in my life!

[@MattyMcDoodle]

@@roeoneill9158 Yeah it’s not something you can just go and do whenever you want. My cousin works for the team so I got access through him.

[@roeoneill9158]

@@MattyMcDoodle thanks!

[@roeoneill9158]

@@MattyMcDoodle do you know if there is any way to get to have a look around? Thanks

[@damarfadlan9251]

Do this for every single other F1 Team!

[@kirkbickley3505]

What an unreal video! 🎉

[@Tatical141]

Bruce would have been proud looking at this

[@eugeniopaixao4270]

FANTASTIC !!!!

[@gjh997]

Fantastic. What a super company.

[@gunnar4554]

Very charismatic and entertaining presenter.

[@simewood2040]

A real estate lead performance recovery? Pure genius!

[@seth2943]

9:05 subtle red bull diss lmao

[@Charleybear70]

The way I squealed 😂😂

[@mac8179]

I can imagine Lando crying in that hallway after today’s race.

[@Jud537]

the credits were a nice touch xD

[@JohannesNickel]

Great video!!

[@46bvexrobotics65]

RIP ayrton senna. It's crazy tho one of my family friends did goodyear tyres for f1 in 1980's and knew senna personally

[@RetailRipper]

i think its safe to not have to blur out any of mclaren parts.

[@bits2646]

Omg the specs on the Elvas were amazing... I pray for Ferrari team but theyre notoriously unobtainable, but another team with similar spec that has f1 and car production like am or even mb with project one would be magnificent

[@Ellis01234567890]

2:11 the first pic is the 2022 McLaren not Danny's monza winning car.

[@bradleyapps2304]

this was great!

[@FedericoCrozzolo]

amazing video congrats

[@BeeTB1]

Beautiful content

[@peterolssen9537]

Starting at the bottom team and going up, I like it

[@withmagy.mp4]

JAJAJA TALENT: LANDO NORRIS I LOVE IT

[@Henrikstips]

Awesome video

[@T-800cs]

Awesome!

[@farmerdave33]

Nice BSA Jacket, had one of those as a kid

[@vrccb]

How absolutely fabulous. What I would give to see this...

[@RottingFarmsTV]

You have to give around 1.4 million to buy a Mclaren and spec it there

[@nathans_yt69]

I got caught accidentally trespassing there and the alarm went off and some dude in a Mercedes van came speeding towards us but was so kind and chilled and asked us to kindly leave and gave me a free McLaren’s lanyard

[@Kadencabs]

love it

[@RoryHanna]

Always think oh it would be really easy to bring updates to car make it by hand once then mass produce it. Mental how much handcraft goes into it no wonder takes so much time. Also how there's casually just a massive production line making the most luxurious cars in the world snuck in there is mental.

[@matthewconlon4732]

Monaco “by far the best to watch” lol the whole three overtakes in the race

[@4KUltraHD-]

Mclaren putting more effort into their showroom than their car this year!

[@kitwaz]

Still of the same opinion?

[@funny7]

taking those trousers into a building designed like that was a brave choice

[@Skafiskafnjak51]

300M+ HQ and still the slowest car on the grid. S H A M E

[@creemzyt5418]

Didn’t show Daniels car or trophy :(

[@Dedalus_D]

Love Love Love.

[@ChokyoDK]

"Points, podiums and glory" Doesn't look like this is gonna be the season where that happens...

[@damianlangdon9745]

Should have put that energy into building a car

[@buddyspecialops]

amazing video

[@kitwaz]

That ending's cheeky

[@luisPBonilla]

nice tractor demo!

[@Tyranidgabe]

Yes Lando you’re right ! Harass Zak for the Vodafone livery !

[@bigspear4358]

nah we need the Marlboro livery back

[@KenaiTobin]

@@bigspear4358 cigarette companies are not allowed to sponsor f1 teams since 2006 I think and I don’t think liberty media would really like cigarette companies sponsoring teams nowadays as cool as they looked

[@welcome33333]

I am Adam Baidawi and I dressed up as a clown to visit the new legendary McLaren HQ

[@jihnfab8957]

I thought that was Carlos Sainz popping around the corner in the beginning hahahahhahah

[@OskarasNauseda]

fun fact mclaren tech center also was used as evil base in hobs and shaw movie

[@cromulentparty]

did you add audio to the road test section lol?

[@Toucan1g]

i've never heard beautiful town and woking in the same sentence before

[@DRIVECLUBistimelessPS4]

Wow!!!!! 🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁

[@oceanblue3050]

All show and no go!

[@charlesdarwin7253]

Where is the room where they manufacture success on the race track? Am I thinking of Aston Martin?

[@goodwood-rc4nx]

great video but what about the secret valet Kidd in a sweet shop saw with Zak Brown?

[@Gamertrix117]

They could’ve chosen a presenter that had some knowledge and enthusiasm about where he was. Great insight and do it again with other teams, but please with someone else.

[@christophergoode3421]

Yea this dudes definitely a poser,, content farm

[@dexon777]

He has no idea about f1

[@steventhomas9461]

THIS IS PARAGON

[@Leobog100]

McLaren is not the same without Ron Dennis. He made McLaren championship winning team. And sadly, as you can see, people working there are not allowed to speak about him. Shame.

[@lavelafetsha]

Why?

[@Leobog100]

@@lavelafetsha don't know all the facts, but the end was bad, new owners and him were in the battle for ownership and he was kicked out. I heard that he wanted company to leave f1 and like that was the reason things went bad between them. It such a shame cause he is so important person for F1 as a sport, not to mention McLaren.

[@oceanblue3050]

It's not about winning races anymore for mclaren, it's about clicks, views, ad revenue, merchandise and sponsorship.

[@fallengundam3950]

They were winning for a bit but McLaren itself was in massive debt. He may have run a winning team before but most of the staff hated him because of the rules and his business decision.

[@shvkpr1]

yeah sure mate. The man who decided on taking on Honda for 2014 really had a lot of sucess in the last 10 years.

[@jonman2279]

i wish they had a quality control center you could have visted!

[@georgestone8099]

Did they keep the receipts?

[@livingthedreambuildingthedream]

Your a very lucky man.

[@immolat]

Evening of Bahrain GP here......sigh😮‍💨..... In great times and bad alike, we're with you team🟧

[@Dillusionz]

Where can we buy those signed posters that he signed on 10:10

[@4rdF1Hunny]

It’s funny they mentioned the attention to detail, because half their cars have to have the panel gaps and rusty bolts fixed after delivery…

[@dylanrodriguez5855]

I'm so jealous that you can visit the mclaren hq