Kari Lammenranta plays a big role at McLaren. Very few Finnish F1 fans still know him.
F1 team McLaren chief mechanic.
Quite a handsome sounding title. But very few people know who that person is.
She is Kari Lammenranta.
The Finns are a people crazy about formulas. Still, it may come as a surprise to many that one of the biggest teams in the F1 series has a Finn in such a significant position.
What is the cause of such a complete media frenzy?
– I don’t know that myself. Maybe I haven’t really made a fuss about myself, Lammenranta laughs.
Of course, the explaining factor is in the stable.
– McLaren has a policy that employees may not appear in public without the team’s permission. After all, there have been a few of those interview requests, but not through an official channel. Sometimes the local newspaper in my home region asked my mother if they could interview me, Lammenranta says.
No training in the field
Lammenranta started his career at McLaren in 2003. At that time, Kimi Räikkönen also drove for the team. PDO
Lammenranta has worked as McLaren’s chief mechanic since 2017. Before ending up at the current top carmaker, the Finn had time to work at McLaren in various mechanic positions since 2003.
– I have no training in the field. I used to study construction, but when I couldn’t find a job, I joined a friend’s racing team. There, I gained experience in the work of a motor sports mechanic, Lammenranta says.
After gaining experience in the industry, Lammenranta decided to try his luck with the Formula Ones.
– I sent applications to a couple of different teams. Williams was the first to offer a position, but when McLaren also invited me to work, I didn’t have to think long about the decision, Lammenranta remembers twenty years ago.
Lammenranta Yleni went from being the mechanic of the test car that was in use at the time, first to being the mechanic of the spare car for the race weekend and then to being the mechanic of another racing driver. More than ten years ago, Lammenranta Yleni became the “first mechanic”, i.e. the mechanic responsible for the car as a whole.
The current role as chief mechanic is a step up from this. According to Lammenranta, the task is primarily administrative. He takes care of, for example, the mechanics’ work shifts and schedules and ensures that the desired parts are surely attached to the car.
But when the need arises, Lammenranta is not afraid to roll up its sleeves and grab the tools.
– The last time I got along was on Friday. When something big happens, everyone’s help is needed, Lammenranta points out Oscar Piastri for driving out and breaking the car.
Hamilton’s championship star moment
Lammenranta celebrated the world championship as Lewis Hamilton’s mechanic in 2008. EPA / AOP
From the season 2007 to the season 2012 Lammenranta worked Lewis Hamilton in the car.
In 2008, the brightest star moment of his career so far came when the British driver became world champion.
– The championship was something incredible. Especially since it came after such a roller-coaster-like last race, Lammenranta points to Hamilton’s rise to the championship at the last corner of the season.
In the early years of Lammenranta’s McLaren career, he also drove for the team Kimi Raikkonen.
– Sure, we talked often, but since I was in charge of another car, we didn’t interact that closely, Lammenranta says.
Tips for young people
The job of an F1 mechanic is no child’s play. PDO
F1 is the dream workplace of many boys and girls. Even for mechanics.
Lammenranta gives training to young mechanics who dream of working at a formula pit someday.
Lammenranta’s most important lesson is that you shouldn’t take too much of her as a model.
– Yes, it is quite important to attend those schools these days. Then only to the lower classes to learn and get experience. Dare to go abroad, Lammenranta encourages.
Tuition fees must be paid.
– I strongly doubt that the doors to formula one will open without previous experience in the field. At least then you should have attended studies in the field, for example in England, Lammenranta believes.
Lammenranta has not received much contact from young people interested in F1.
– Maybe no one knows about my existence, Lammenranta laughs, referring to his media blackout.
However, there are jobs available, but you also have to be ready to work.
– Working days of 10–12 hours are normal. Although today the days are not as long as they used to be, they can sometimes stretch to 18 hours. The same thing happened on Friday, when we put together Oscar’s car, Lammenranta says.
At home, there is also no time but to turn around
– During the season, such 200 days away from home accumulate, Lammenranta calculates.
Big sacrifices
Lammenranta lives with his Finnish spouse in England, near McLaren’s headquarters in Woking.
Both work for the F1 team. Great sacrifices have been made for the sport.
– There are no children. With this amount of travel, the spouse would almost become a single parent. We decided at one time that as long as I do this job, we will not have children. And now that I’m getting older, it seems to be a bit late already, Lammenranta states.
Since 2005, Lammeranta has missed only a handful of competitions. Although Lammenranta loves his job, he has sometimes thought about passing the torch on.
– At some point, responsibility must be given to the younger generation. We have talented young people in the team, who will certainly do well when their time comes, Lammenranta believes.
However, Lammenranta does not want to give any timetable for new challenges. Especially when he doesn’t even know what to do.
– It’s not just me who wants to go to the McLaren factory anymore. I guess it would be a return to Finland and retirement, Lammenranta laughs.