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ACHIEVING ENGINEERING PERFECTION! How Ron Dennis Made McLaren a Powerhouse

Aidan Millward

26,772 views

Over the winter break, I looked at how Ron's empire crashed around him. But we often forget that Dennis was a mastermind behind taking a team struggling towards the end of the 70s, into one of the most successful teams in Formula One history. And now, McLaren will celebrate its 1,000th Grand Prix- Becoming only the second team to hit that milestone.

Clever wrangling with Marlboro, and then managing to succeed where Brabham, Lotus and others fell off- Keeping factory engine deals, keeping sponsors and in turn, keeping the talent. Even when things weren't going right, they got rescued. But it was only a matter of time when it all fell in on itself.

So how did Ron take control, and end up making the 'modern' F1 team? Let's have a look.

Enjoy! And remember to like and subscribe for more!

00:00 Intro
02:50 Dennis' early days
04:27 McLaren in the 70s
06:36 The Big McLaren Reset
08:00 The MP4/1, Porsche and Dominance
10:53 Sowing the Seeds
12:50 Newey, Lewis and the News
14:49 We Did What You Couldn't
17:41 De Ja Vu
18:17 How Important Dennis is to Modern F1

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20 Comments

@AidanMillward Creator 3 months ago Pinned

Neil Oatley: exists.

@fix0the0spade 3 months ago

The cancellation of the Middle Eastern races was a blessing in disguise, it means Mclaren hit their milestone at Monaco and not some soulless Tilkedrome.

@prettyprrrrettaygood 3 months ago

"Today, Aiden delivered an exemplary display of narrative exposition. He showed everyone that his historical knowledge and.... (smirky grin) Cutting Wit are still the best on the grid" - RonGPT

@formulaturismo 3 months ago

Glad to see Ron Getting some love. I seen a lot of people hating on him recently and I don't know why. Yes he had his quirks but He Made McLaren. He Still holds the record for most Championships won. Ron will always be a legend.

@Clippyzillar 3 months ago

Maurice Hamilton's biography on Ken Tyrrell mentions Ron Dennis helping Ken out in the early 90s by, essentially, seconding some of McLaren's commercial department to get sponsors for Tyrrell. That's how they ended up with the Braun sponsorship.

@F-Man 3 months ago

Ah, yes. Real McLaren 😎

@areasquirrel 3 months ago

The appliance of science. The least cool man in the paddock made F1 cool. And he didn't give a chuff what you thought of that. There's a respect in that.

@alexvader9873 3 months ago

God, I miss Ron.

@esvedium 3 months ago

Ron Dennis: Proof that persistent constipation CAN win you Formula 1 world championships

@Wizards_sleeve 3 months ago

Zak brown McLaren feels like a covers band compared to the real deal when Ron was at the helm.

The silver mclarens from 97 onwards were always my team and still to this day my favourite livery

@dailyjetboating3607 3 months ago

A friend who recently started at Woking said there’s a Ron Dennis inspired Warhol in the men’s room above the urinals

@jakecoare 3 months ago

Ron Dennis did an amazing job building McLaren back to being one of the most successful teams in F1 history!! Ron legacy will be with McLaren for years with ten. MTC( McLaren technology centre) , the Senna vs prost years Mikki beating Schumacher and discovering and supporting Lewis Hamilton into F1

Ron is a true pioneer and legend of F1 and motorsports

Sadly the last years of his McLaren time in formula one didn’t go well like with the failed Honda power unit! A few we will be looking at the job Zak brown has done with McLaren in F1 turning back into a front running team fighting for Grand Prix wins and also bringing the McLaren brand into WEC / Le Mans 24 hours endurance racing and Indy car all three parts of the motorsport triple McLaren have won in McLaren brilliant history in motorsports

@gp2engine823 3 months ago

Damn. Newey Lewis and the news is amazing name

@y_fam_goeglyd 3 months ago

I really enjoyed this. Ron is a complicated character, but you have to admire him. For someone seen to be very conservative, he took a lot of risks.

@MrSaywutnow 3 months ago

Today I learned that Brabham is the Kevin Bacon of Formula 1.

@dongorgon4168 3 months ago

Messy end to what was one of the most incredible pieces of motor racing history.
Ron was the nuts. Probably the best and most successful team owner.
From Woking, trying to pinch engineers from British Aerospace up the road! in Weybridge!!

@anthonyhastings5961 3 months ago

I used to get F1 magazine in the early noughties and they used to have a monthly Ronspeak quote.

I met him once at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. His late brother’s widow was the CEO’s assistant and he had come in for lunch with her. I only said hello how are you but he was polite and pleasant. I met Bernie in F1 once in Fortnum and Mason’s. He was quite chatty.