The former boss of the Mercedes Formula 1 team, Nick Fry, will become the new president of McLaren Applied, a company that was part of the McLaren Group and which deals with technological research and the supply of hi-tech solutions for racing and the automotive sector. Fry has lived for a long time in the Formula 1 paddock, in particular in Brackley through the various entities that have followed one another over the years: BAR, Honda, Brawn GP and precisely Mercedes.
According to The Race, his appointment will allow McLaren Applied to focus even more on electronics, with the supply of the standard ECU for F1 and the control battery in Formula E. the McLaren Group, due to Covid. Last August, the news of its sale to an investment group called Greybull Capital was given, according to what was reported by the British media and then confirmed by McLaren itself. The division would in any case continue to operate from the McLaren Technology Center in Woking.
“We are pleased to secure the investment that will support our strategic intent to pave the way for a better future by leveraging our electrification and telemetry, control and analytics capabilities. We remain focused and engaged with our existing customers and in the motor sports, automotive and public transportation market segments; this additional investment will ensure long-term stability and additional funding to develop meaningful innovationsMcLaren Applied CEO Anthony Murray said.
For the first 24 years of his career, Nick Fry (not to be confused with engineer Pat Fry) worked for Ford Motor Company on some of its road cars, plus a stint at Aston Martin – owned by Ford at the time. From there it was the springboard to F1, taking advantage of David Richards’ entry into the Prodrive group. Fry remained in F1 until March 2013, when Toto Wolff was announced to take his place.