Ahead of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, McLaren Racing and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation have unveiled Machine One – a semi-automated coral-seeding system.
While not a collaboration one would expect from the reigning Constructors’ Champions, the Woking-based team have been working with marine scientists since 2024.
The partnership has seen engineers from McLaren develop Machine One, which they have affectionately named OSCAR.
The technology will allow for coral planting to increase tenfold across the Great Barrier Reef, where immediate action is required to reverse the impacts of climate change.
“We are in a race against time, working at a scale that can feel impossible,” explained Anna Marsden, Managing Director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
“But this partnership is proving world class engineering can help close that gap, and that delivering restoration at the speed and scale the reef demands is still possible.”
Kim Wilson, Sustainability Director at McLaren Racing, added that McLaren’s racing philosophy will boost the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s restoration efforts.
“In racing, marginal gains add up and drive high performance, and we’re applying that same philosophy to reef restoration.
“Here, every second saved doesn’t just increase performance, but accelerates the scale, delivery and capacity for innovative engineering solutions and problem solving to help us protect and restore this vital ecosystem.”
The project forms part of McLaren’s broader sustainability ambition, where the team has committed to achieving net zero by 2040.
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