As the hustle and bustle in the Pit Lane subsided, the mechanics began their meticulous fine-tuning work, transforming the noisy atmosphere into a focused tranquility.
Ron Dennis straightened his Polo shirt and strode over with steady steps.
He first turned to Takuya Nakayama, a rare, formulaic smile appearing on his usually stern face.
"Mr. Nakayama, I hope my team hasn't neglected you in any way."
After all, Takuya Nakayama represented Sega, not just a partner, but a wealthy benefactor.
Ron Dennis had to give him proper deference.
"Not at all. We've been thoroughly impressed," Takuya Nakayama replied with a smile. "Witnessing firsthand how a champion team prepares for competition is an immense honor for us."
"Champion?" Ron Dennis repeated the word, his eyebrow twitching involuntarily. His tone carried a hint of self-mockery, but more of a stubborn refusal to accept defeat. "This year's championship already belongs to Sir Frank Williams."
He changed the subject, leading the group to the fully assembled MP4/7A, which lay quietly on the ground.
His hand gently glided over the side pod of the car, his eyes radiating absolute confidence in his creation.
"Speaking of a champion's pedigree, I doubt anyone can claim it more than McLaren."
His gaze swept across the group of Americans, their eyes shining with excitement. He lifted his chin slightly, his pride evident in every word.
"What you see before you now—a carbon fiber monocoque—was first introduced to Formula One by McLaren eleven years ago. While others were still using fragile aluminum alloys, our MP4/1 race car was already utilizing this aerospace-grade material. It's lighter and stronger, completely revolutionizing the sport."
Kevin, the car enthusiast, was trembling with excitement.
He blurted out, "A one-piece carbon fiber monocoque! It saved John Watson's life in the Monza crash! The car was shattered, but the cockpit remained completely intact!"
This information-packed statement caught Ron Dennis's attention, a flicker of approval crossing his eyes.
He hadn't expected to find someone who truly understood cars among this group of video game developers.
"Exactly," he nodded, his tone warming. "Since then, we've won seven Drivers' Championships and six Constructors' Championships. Especially in 1988—"
He pointed to a massive poster hanging in the team's logistics area, depicting two red-and-white MP4/4 race cars racing side by side.
"That year, we had Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. This car, powered by a Honda V6 turbocharged engine, won fifteen out of sixteen races in the season."
"Fifteen!" A member of Mark Cerny's team gasped. Even someone unfamiliar with racing could sense the overwhelming dominance conveyed by that number.
As Ron Dennis recounted McLaren's glorious history with pride, the marketing elites from North America were left with nothing but pure admiration and awe.
Takuya Nakayama observed the scene with a smile. "Ron," he said, "you pursue ultimate speed and handling on the track, while we pursue ultimate graphics and immersion in our chips. In a way, our goals are aligned."
This statement was remarkably insightful, instantly elevating the relationship between the two parties from that of mere "sponsor and team" to that of "like-minded pursuers of excellence."
The smile on Ron Dennis's face grew more genuine. "Well said, Mr. Nakayama. So, I look forward to your VR Racing becoming a legend, just like our MP4/4."
As Ron Dennis recounted McLaren's glorious achievements, the Americans in the room were stirred, as if they had personally experienced that grand, crimson legend.
However, after the admiration subsided, Kevin, the passionate car enthusiast, couldn't resist asking the question everyone was thinking, though it risked dampening the mood:
"Mr. Ron, I heard... that Honda will be leaving Formula One after this season." He carefully chose his words. "So, which engine will McLaren use in next year's cars?"
The question pierced the room's enthusiastic atmosphere like a needle.
The pride on Ron Dennis's face softened slightly. He glanced at the MP4/7A beside him, and his tone regained the calm resolve of a seasoned business leader. "Unless something unexpected happens, it'll be Ford. But that's not a major concern. McLaren has weathered far worse storms, and we always find a way."
His confidence was undeniable, but Kevin detected a hint of resignation in the brief pause.
Seeing the conversation turning chilly, Takuya Nakayama stepped forward with a smile, skillfully steering the topic back on track. "Mr. Ron, your and McLaren's boldness in technological innovation is the very foundation of the team's enduring success. Especially your championing of the carbon fiber monocoque—its contribution to driver safety can never be overstated."
These words were both flattery and truth, and Ron Dennis's expression visibly softened.
"It's simply our duty," Ron replied.
"Indeed," Takuya nodded. "You protect the drivers' bodies, securing them within the world's sturdiest eggshell." His tone abruptly shifted. "But I can't help but wonder: we safeguard the torso, yet the most critical and vulnerable part—the head—still seems exposed to tremendous risk."
Ron Dennis's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly.
He instinctively glanced at the tall roll cage rising behind the cockpit, as if finding the question somewhat superfluous.
Takuya Nakayama seemed not to notice Ron Dennis's expression as he continued in a probing tone, "On a Formula One track, anything can become a weapon. For example, if a tire bursts in front of you, a fragment could fly towards you at two or three hundred kilometers per hour. Can modern helmets truly block such an impact? Or consider a car losing control and rolling. Even with the roll cage creating a survival space, if the inverted car slides at high speed across the gravel trap, could a helmet's edge catch on the ground? Could a driver's neck withstand the terrifying instantaneous torque that would result?"
His description, devoid of any emotion, sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.
Ron Dennis fell silent, no longer dismissing this as the unfounded worry of an amateur.
As a team manager, he knew better than anyone how unpredictable and bizarre track accidents could be.
Takuya paused before delivering the most critical point: "There's one scenario that's often overlooked: lateral impacts. If a car loses control in a high-speed turn and crashes sideways into the tire wall, the driver's body is securely restrained by the six-point harness. But what about their head? Under the force of dozens of Gs generated in an instant, it would swing like a pendulum, violently slamming against the hard interior of the cockpit. The cervical spine, the skull... the consequences are unimaginable."
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