McLaren's winning formula: from CNC machining to the podium

Ten years ago, if you had told a racing fan that McLaren would once again become the leading force of Formula 1, they may not have believed you. Several partnerships later, with a dream team of Piastri and Norris, it’s undeniable that McLaren are back on top.

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McLaren’s success is a winning combination of drivers, strategy, and leadership, supported by the wealth of knowledge and experience they have accumulated over the years. There is one element however, that is often overlooked: the high-value, tight-tolerance machining behind their cars.

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Every valve and piston, every gear and ball joint, is made to fit McLaren’s exact specifications. The quality of these parts, and the speed with which they can be produced (essential for short-notice regulation changes), is critical to the overall performance.

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The McLaren Production Centre is home to McLaren’s own design and engineering teams, as well as a state of the art driving simulator and even wind tunnels. However, McLaren also partners with an extensive network of British manufacturers and suppliers to support their production and engineering needs. These partners work with cutting edge technology, consistently producing world class products that match McLaren’s own drive for excellence.

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CNC machining is used extensively in automotive manufacturing, by suppliers and in-house teams, as it can produce complex, specialised parts, from a wide range of materials that will survive in harsh conditions. McLaren have been in-house CNC machining since 2005 when they opened the McLaren Technology Centre.

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McLaren recently invested in an extensive upgrade of their CNC machines, a move which had an immediate impact on track performance. So, what exactly has McLaren changed, and how does that really impact Piastri and Norris as they race around the track?

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Image courtesy of McLaren Technology Centre

2021

In 2021, McLaren once again began using Mercedes engines in F1. In order to ensure their cars made the most of the new power source, McLaren realised they needed to update their in-house machining in time for the 2021 team.

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They partnered with Mazak, who supplied McLaren with an INTEGREX i-100S Multi-Tasking machine centre. The i-100S delivers simultaneous 5-axis technology and can be used to create the parts needed for transmission, suspension, engine systems, and general car components.

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This update in machining capabilities enabled McLaren to make the necessary modifications to produce high value, complex products in a short timeframe, and the team recorded their first win since 2012.

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2022-2023

Over the next two years, McLaren continued to maintain their position as strong competitors in F1, but struggled to secure a place in the top three.

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McLaren began to plan an extensive machining update, which would enable them to produce new designs faster and more efficiently than ever before. Some machines at the Technology Centre were almost 20 years old, putting the engineers at a disadvantage compared to their competitors, who were working with more up-to-date machinery. With their suppliers, Mills CNC, McLaren began a complete overhaul of their CNC machines.

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2024

Image Courtesy of McLaren and Formula 1

By early 2024, the McLaren Technology Centre was stocked full of the most up-to-date CNC machines on the market. The impact on track performance was immediate and McLaren rose back to the top, winning the Constructors Championship for the first time since 1998. Here are a couple of the machines that helped:

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The Puma SMX2100, a mill-turn machine, allows McLaren’s machines to create parts faster than ever, by providing two functions in one.

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The smaller Lynx 2100 models come with brand new features and programmes, such as glass feedback scales and bar feeders. This increased the repeatability and reliability and, since the machine can be left unattended for several hours, allowed machinists to simultaneously work on multiple components.

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McLaren estimated that the total impact of their new machines would increase their production speed by 10-20%.

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2025

Last weekend, McLaren won their seventh race of the season with a stunning victory in Barcelona.

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The speculation prior to the Spanish Grand Prix has been intense, as this was the first race with a major new regulation from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA have reduced the amount of front wing flexibility allowed on the cars, which affects the the ability to counteract drag, potentially reducing speed and overall performance. McLaren’s rivals were confident that the new regulation would be the end of McLaren’s winning streak, but Piastri and Norris maintained their impressive 1st and 2nd positions. As Mercedes' George Russell jokingly commented, the new regulation made very little difference.

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Image courtesy of Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

For the majority of the race, Verstappen was a strong competitor for Piastri and Norris, but his 10 second penalty due to a collision dropped him to 10th place, giving the McLaren drivers a comfortable lead. While the penalty was undoubtedly a bonus for the McLaren team, they had moved into 1st and 2nd place before Verstappen's collision with George Russell, demonstrating how little effect the new regulation had on their performance.

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It is impossible to say that the new, modern CNC machines are fully responsible for McLaren’s Spanish Grand Prix win (I'm sure the drivers had something to do with it). However, it is undeniable that having the most updated machines will have enabled McLaren to create more complex, specialised parts on a quicker time scale than ever before, potentially helping to cancel out any negative impact that comes from the new regulations.

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2026

Next year a raft of regulatory changes will hit all the teams, with uncertain results. By ensuring they have the latest CNC technology, McLaren are sure to maintain their current domination on the F1 tracks.

McLaren’s reinvestment in CNC machines may be the secret that its competitors have been dying to uncover, but it also represents a new perception of CNC machining. As technology advances the machines and techniques keep pace, and holding on to the same machines for two decades is no longer an option. Regular investment in CNC machines will enable companies, including McLaren, to keep the wheels turning in the years to come.

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