McLaren hires Sam Michael as Sporting Director

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is delighted to announce that Sam Michael will join the team as Sporting Director from the 2012 season onwards. With 18 continuous years in the industry, Sam is a hugely experienced Formula 1 professional.

After starting his Grand Prix career with Team Lotus in 1993, he joined Jordan Grand Prix in 1995, where he established the team’s R&D group before progressing into a senior race engineering role.

In 2001 he joined WilliamsF1 as Chief Operations Engineer, becoming the team’s Technical Director in 2004 and a company director in 2008.

As Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ Sporting Director, Sam will join the senior management team in addition to taking specific responsibility for the development and management of the team’s trackside operations. His vast experience and profound understanding of race operations will enhance the team’s on-track capability, adding significantly to its already impressive technical management strength-in-depth.

Sam Michael said: “I’m extremely excited to be joining Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. Being a racer my whole life, I know that McLaren is one of the all-time greats of Formula 1.

“I already know and respect many of the team’s senior technical management figures, and becoming a member of that excellent working unit was one of the prime attractions of this new position.

“Equally, for some time I’ve closely observed and greatly admired both Lewis and Jenson as grade-one drivers, and therefore regard it as an enormous privilege to be able to work with both of them.

“I’ve spent 11 seasons with WilliamsF1, have many fond memories, and truly wish them all the best. In the near future, however, I will become 100 per cent focused on Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and will be aiming to ensure that the team’s famous rocket-red victory T-shirts will be seen many times over the coming years.”

Martin Whitmarsh, Team Principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes said: “Speaking on behalf of everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, I’m very pleased to welcome Sam as an important senior addition to our race team.

“He’ll bring a very valuable blend of experience and expertise to our pitwall, and will also enrich the technical management we provide for our drivers.

“I’m certain he’ll work extremely well with our senior technical management team, which I firmly believe will now become the strongest in all of Formula 1.”