Gil de Ferran believes his own attitude of self-improvement can contribute to the McLaren Formula 1 team’s development, as it bids to escape its current malaise.
McLaren-Honda’s abortive partnership hampered results between 2015-17 but a switch to Renault power has not yielded the expected progress, and it holds only seventh in this year’s standings.
McLaren undertook managerial changes prior to the British Grand Prix, with Racing Director Eric Boullier tendering his resignation, and De Ferran joining in the newly-formed role of Sporting Director.
De Ferran had previously been affiliated with McLaren on an advisory role and acted as a coach to Fernando Alonso during the Spaniard’s assault on the Indianapolis 500 last year, having triumphed at the event as a driver in 2003.
“I think the success I had behind the wheel and any success I had as a businessman came really from trying to understand what were my weaknesses,” said De Ferran.
“I was not one to be afraid to look at the mirror and say ‘I could’ve done better here, could’ve done better there, what do I need to do to improve?’
“I think the second thing that I realised very early on in my life that success never comes alone, you won’t have success by yourself. There are very few people I think that were able to achieve many things in life by themselves.
“Most of them [achievements] are part of a team, so knowing how to get a team together, working together, being able to make them feel focused and motivated and really understand where they’re going, and truly engage, really, because the best ideas I think come when you’re in the middle of the night thinking about all the good stuff for the next day.
“This is how I personally operate and this is really the field I’m bringing to my part.”
De Ferran emphasised his confidence in the personnel present within McLaren and that improving communication between different areas of the team is of primary concern.
“It’s clear to me that the team has a lot of talent, up and down, wherever I go it’s guys that have been here for a long time, guys that are younger and newer but there’s certainly a lot of talent and a lot of brain power,” he said.
“I think the main area really is communicating, having clarity in certain things and I think they will help move forward.”
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