For as fast as they are on the track, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown understands that Formula 1 teams are slow embrace the outside world. In the era of the show Drive to Survive, Brown recognizes that teams have to open their doors in more ways than one.
With a background in marketing, Brown is a master at this. And that’s why, whether it’s a sci-fi epic or even F1’s very own feature film, there’s a chance you may spot McLaren’s Woking-based headquarters on screen. This is very much by design.
McLaren Technology Centre Wind Tunnel
Formula 1 thrives in cinematics, but it’s McLaren that leans into that idea most as it positions itself in front of the eyes of mainstream audiences, not just F1 fans. McLaren is more than comfortable with stepping into pop culture while retaining the credibility of a constructors’ champion.
“Sport is entertainment,” Brown said as 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 that we get from fans is tremendous—especially here in the US.”
They’d be silly not to continue in a similar vein, and that’s why you’ll see the organization’s beautiful McLaren Technology Centre in three of the biggest franchises on screen. Designed by architect Norman Foster, it boasts a Yin-Yang design, an expansive lake housing 30 million liters of water, and a custom-built wind tunnel.
This makes it one hell of a backdrop for a science fiction movie.
In a Galaxy Far, Far Away
The eagle-eyed among you will have spotted the MTC being 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 Star Wars universe with a splash of CGI and set dressing.
For Lucasfilm, the MTC offered a genuine and functioning high-technology facility that already looked like it boasted the technology of the universe. But for McLaren, it was its chance to embed itself into one of the most recognisable brands of all time.
It felt natural, almost achieved through osmosis rather than a forced promotion, if you’ll excuse the pun.
Fast & Furiously Evil
In the Fast and Furious spin-off, Hobbs & Shaw, the MTC featured as the evil and high-tech lair of Idris Elba’s Brixton Lore. While the movie was questionable at best, the MTC once again featured as a sleek, tech-heavy nerve centre for the antagonist and his team.
Several McLaren cars were also used in the production, with Jason Statham’s character seen wrestling a 720S on the streets of London.
A Blockbuster Built in Woking
F1’s new feature film, known by the same name, saw the championship heavily integrated into its production. Mercedes-Benz—another team known for its efforts in pop culture—supplied the cars for the fictional APXGP team while McLaren supplied its headquarters.
Both the interior and exterior of the MTC were used for a number of scenes, giving the highly successful production yet another level of realism. And to connect itself even more firmly to the movie, McLaren Racing allowed star Brad Pitt a drive of its 2023 challenger at the famous Circuit of The Americas in Austin.
This, according to the press release, was an offer extended personally by Brown on top of the seat fitting and simulator work it carried out for the production.
Why the MTC Keeps Getting Cast
The MTC is something filmmakers want to point a camera at. It’s a haven for tech nerds as much as it is for wildlife, and it can pass as a spaceport as well as a villain’s HQ. With F1 becoming more and more embedded in pop culture—the F1 movie banked over $600 million in global revenue—I wouldn’t be surprised if we see it again soon.
