Crisp and clean Mclaren race suits

[lost_button]

Whats this all about? Looking at the drivers at the press conference on Sunday, why did hamilton have a super clean and crisp suit? why did Alonso not have one?

Whats the point of this?

[Aysedasi]

Fernando's mum forgot to wash and iron his.....

Rumour has it that McLaren have now sacked her.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by lost_button

Whats the point of this?

Yes, that has summed up this nicely.

[Down F0rce]

Lewis changed into a clean suit for the press conference at Indy I hear. Same thing here I suppose.

[Aysedasi]

Rumour now has it that Fernando has offered Lewis' mum a large sum* to defect to his laundry camp.......

(*plus two packets of Daz)

[pzijko]

McLaren uses a special jacket specially made for the press conferences. It shows their sponsors better.

[andy_b]

pzijko is correct. The suits have been used for the last couple of years. Next time you see the press conference, have a look at the logos, they dont flex and buckle as much, as if cardboard is used! Last year, Kimi's suit was bigger than his race suit. Champagne is also slightly yellow, which screws up the Daz whitness of the suit etc

However, it seems that Alonso doesnt want to follow in Juan, Pedro, Kimi and Lewis footsteps and hasn't worn these the last few races

[pottiella]

Lewis looked like an advertising board next to 2 racers. There was initial talk of Fernando refusing to wear it at the USGP because he was angry at the team; but there's no reason to think that at the British GP. If it's so important to McLaren it must surely be their responsibility to make the drivers wear them, and where Fernando doesn't object to doing PR stuff (and wears the tag heur watches and stuff before press conf) I'm sure he wouldn't mind it. So either it is compulsory but they just don't want to push Fernando into anything he doesn't want to do, or it isn't compulsory which then says a lot about Fernando and Lewis as racers - one doesn't see it as much of a priority just after a race, and the other has been "brought up" in PR-town that its one of those things he instinctively remembers to stick to.

This is neither a defence or criticism of either driver - for any of the more paranoid amongst you!

[andy_b]

tough - if you sign for a team who will pay you millions, then you have to expect this sort of PR. Companies like Vodafone, Johnnie Walker dont do this for charity. It all helps the future health of the team afterall. A few lean years and you could end up like Honda or Williams

I remember an engineer telling me, when I was learning my trade " The most important part on a racecar is the sticker on the sidepod"

[pottiella]

yeah, and the overalls they wear already do. The only reason Lewis' one gets noticed is because it's whiter than Fernando's! Else it would be no different if they were both wearing they slightly dirtier race overalls to the shiny whiter than white ones. You don't see the "vodafone", "johnny walker" "FedEx" "Hugo Boss" etc signs any less, and for decades the sponsors have been seen and known from race overalls. If anything, people don't like PR going overboard with things like new whiter jackets being worn just after a race JUST for the sponsor's being on a clean overall...because it dehumanises the "racer" element of motor racing.

Like I said, its not a criticism of Lewis, but a reflection of justifiable priorities.

Wearing the watch, wearing the sunglasses etc, they make absolute sense. But wearing a whiter jacket isn't from the sponsors - its a McLaren thing. They get paid millions to driver and do pr activities...not wear a whiter version of whatever they are already wearing...surely.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by andy_b

I remember an engineer telling me, when I was learning my trade " The most important part on a racecar is the sticker on the sidepod"

Not the nut holding the wheel then.

[Super Hans]

I'd imagine the use of clean, fresh post-race overalls is driven by Ron Dennis's meticulous attention to detail, rather than commercial concerns.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

I'd imagine the use of clean, fresh post-race overalls is driven by Ron Dennis's meticulous attention to detail, rather than commercial concerns.

Indeed.And I bet all the photocopied stuff is laminated.

[Sodemo]

We always hear about drivers being "swamped" with PR duties, yet I never see any of these endevours, therefore they can't be very good or important PR excersises!

[pottiella]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

We always hear about drivers being "swamped" with PR duties, yet I never see any of these endevours, therefore they can't be very good or important PR excersises!

you must be the only person who hasn't been forced to watch the Vodafone-Lewis advert for the bizillionth time!!!

[Slippy Diff]

Originally Posted by pottiella

They get paid millions to driver and do pr activities

They get paid millions to do exactly as they're told.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by pottiella

you must be the only person who hasn't been forced to watch the Vodafone-Lewis advert for the bizillionth time!!!

No one forces you to watch these things.You mustn't let yourself be drawn to the dark side.

[pottiella]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

You mustn't let yourself be drawn to the dark side.

I'm afraid it's already happening...I bought my dad a vodafone mobile the other day for the first time!!

I think I'm going to have to work hard to resist joining Abbey now that Lewis' Santander advert is on the increase!!

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

I'd imagine the use of clean, fresh post-race overalls is driven by Ron Dennis's meticulous attention to detail, rather than commercial concerns.

I know its gone down very well with the sponsors, but yeah, Ron's attention to detail is also met

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by pottiella

I think I'm going to have to work hard to resist joining Abbey now that Lewis' Santander advert is on the increase!!

Fight it my friend.May the force be with you.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by pottiella

you must be the only person who hasn't been forced to watch the Vodafone-Lewis advert for the bizillionth time!!!

Aside from a couple of Michael Schumacher Shell adverts, and a Damon Hill Pizza Hut advert, that Lewis Vodafone ad is the first F1 ad ive seen in ages. There is also a Santander ad featuring Lewis now too. It seems the ad agencies are going crazy over Hamilton this time round.

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by pottiella

If anything, people don't like PR going overboard with things like new whiter jackets being worn just after a race JUST for the sponsor's being on a clean overall...because it dehumanises the "racer" element of motor racing.

The extra white suit is the bonus to the solution of ensuring sponsors logos can be seen on clean suits.

Give you a good example. Years ago, all the teams had front wing covers made in fabric. A sponsor were a bit miffed that when ever they showed guests around the pits, there logo was covered up. Therefore I designed a vac-formed front wing cover. Designed so they would stack and take up no more room, but importantly, you could place the logos on them

2 races after their debut, Ferrari and others had copied us Its all about the sticker.

[Marbot]

Sponsorship from 'Durex' or 'Viagra' would be interesting.

[pottiella]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Sponsorship from 'Durex' or 'Viagra' would be interesting.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Sponsorship from 'Durex' or 'Viagra' would be interesting.

I believe David Leslie's Vauxhall Cavalier was sponsored by Penthouse back in 1994 or so I recall.

Its a shame they couldn't have done a cross - deal with kleenex.