McLaren’s engineering director Pat Fry set to leave team
McLaren’s Formula 1 engineering director Pat Fry is understood to have been put on gardening leave after indicating that he wants to leave the team.
After eight years away, Fry rejoined the Woking outfit last year on what was a short-term contract while it needed extra input as it awaited the arrival of James Key, who had been recruited from Toro Rosso as technical director but was on a lengthy gardening leave of his own.
Fry contributed to the development of the MCL34, working alongside performance director Andrea Stella. Both men have been reporting to Key since the latter was finally able to take up his role earlier this season.
It’s not yet clear whether the 55-year-old has a firm offer from elsewhere. Although his gardening leave would potentially stop him from joining another team before its 2020 car is designed and almost ready to hit the track, Fry’s speciality is engineering and development, and he could be available before testing gets underway next year.
One logical candidate is Williams, which is now officially able to pursue potential new recruits for its top technical job after the legal situation with Paddy Lowe was resolved last week.
Asked in Austria if her team would now look for a direct replacement for Lowe, Claire Williams said: “We’re happy with the technical management team that we have, and we’re looking at the options that are available to us now, and what would fit most appropriately with our structure. As soon as we make a decision and we can make an announcement, we’ll share it.”
Fry has an impressive CV. He started his F1 career with Benetton in 1987, and was Martin Brundle’s engineer before starting his first spell at McLaren in 1993, just at the end of the Ayrton Senna era.
He worked as a race engineer with both Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. He was also chief engineer on cars that raced in odd-numbered years as McLaren used a system of alternating the role, and was thus responsible for the 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 cars, although he left to join Ferrari before the latter actually raced.
Initially he was deputy technical director and head of race engineering at Maranello, and later technical director, before leaving after a shake-up at the end of a difficult 2014 season that saw Ferrari only fourth in the championship. He then had a brief spell at Manor before returning to McLaren last September.
Asked about Fry’s situation, a McLaren spokesman said that the team doesn’t comment on matters related to personnel.
Previous article
What slowed Mercedes in Austria, and can it happen again?
Next article
How O'Ward's surprise Red Bull shot came about
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Teams | McLaren |
| Author | Adam Cooper |
Sebastian Vettel explains why Aston Martin
Aston Martin AMR21 Unveiling
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
