No matter how fast they are on the track, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown understands that Formula 1 teams are slow to embrace the outside world. In the era of the show Drive to surviveBrown recognizes that teams need to open their doors in more ways than one.
With a background in marketing, Brown is a master at it. And that’s why, whether it’s a sci-fi epic or even F1’s own feature film, there’s a chance you’ll see McLaren’s Woking headquarters on screen. This is very much by design.
Formula 1 thrives on cinema, but it’s McLaren that leans most on that idea as it positions itself in front of mainstream audiences, not just F1 fans. McLaren is more than comfortable entering pop culture while maintaining the credibility of a constructors’ champion.
‘Sport is entertainment’ Brown said while Netflix’s F1 docuseries exploded in popularity in 2021. “And I think these guys have brought us a new angle, a new dimension, and the feedback we get from fans is tremendous, especially here in the US.”
It would be foolish not to continue in the same vein, which is why you will see the organization’s beautiful McLaren Technology Center on screen in three of the biggest franchises. Designed by architect Norman Foster, it features a Yin-Yang design, an expansive lake with 30 million liters of water and a custom-built wind tunnel.
This makes it a great setting for a science fiction movie.
In a galaxy far, far away
The keen-eyed among you will have spotted the MTC used in the filming of the Star Wars prequel series Andor. The building’s futuristic glass bridges, minimalist corridors and large columns were transformed to match the style Star Wars universe with a touch of CGI and set dressing.
For Lucasfilm, the MTC offered a real and functioning high-tech facility that already looked like it had the technology of the universe. But for McLaren it was the chance to integrate itself into one of the most recognizable brands of all time.
It felt natural, almost achieved by osmosis rather than forced promotion, if you’ll pardon the pun.
Fast and furious evil
In the Fast and furious spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw, the MTC functioned as the evil and high-tech lair of Idris Elba’s Brixton Lore. While the film was questionable at best, the MTC once again acted as a sleek, tech-heavy nerve center for the antagonist and his team.
Several McLaren cars were also used in the production, with Jason Statham’s character wrestling a 720S on the streets of London.
A blockbuster built in Woking
In F1’s new feature film, known by the same name, the championship was strongly integrated into the production. Mercedes-Benz – another team known for its pop culture efforts – supplied the cars for the fictional APXGP team, while McLaren supplied the headquarters.
Both the interior and exterior of the MTC were used for a number of scenes, adding yet another level of realism to the highly successful production. And to tie himself even more firmly to the film, McLaren Racing took star Brad Pitt for a spin with his 2023 challenger at the famous Circuit of The Americas in Austin.
According to the press release, this was an offer Brown personally made in addition to the seat fitting and simulator work it performed for the production.
Why the MTC keeps getting cast
The MTC is something filmmakers want to point a camera at. It’s as much a haven for tech nerds as it is for wildlife, and it can serve as both a spaceport and a villain’s headquarters. Now that Formula 1 is becoming increasingly embedded in pop culture F1 film has generated over $600 million in worldwide revenue – I wouldn’t be surprised if we see it again soon.
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