The Mechanic: The Secret World of the F1 Pitlane

Fascinating tales of goings on in F1. From the days when work hard, play hard was a requirement. Great read.

This is an enjoyable inside account of the day to day realities of what it is like to be a mechanic in an F1 team. It is quite general so is not too technical which is positive for the casual F1 fan or those who are not mechanically minded. It casts McLaren in a new light showing that it is not entirely the ultra professional team they wish to portray and that at least the mechanics can have a laugh. It contains lots of interesting stories of what it is like to work in F1 and the camaraderie between mechanics. A bit more tell all info in places, particularly about Ron Dennis would have been nice but what there were was very interesting. It was very interesting to read a mechanic’s view of the feelings about having an unproved rookie in the form of Lewis Hamilton in the team and the challenging 2007 season. There are lots of fun stories of the mechanics behaving badly, of particular interest is the story about filling Kimi’s gloves with blue dye and Kimi’s subsequent revenge. It shows that Kimi can be a warm and friendly guy and is up for a laugh. Overall, this is a fun account of what it is like to be a mechanic and a good read for an F1 fan. A bit more serious insight in places would have been nice though. It strikes a good balance between insight and drunken tales though and is enjoyable to read.

A great insight from a very different perspective that opens up some of the behind the scene world of the enigmatic world of F1 during a great time in the sports ever evolving life.

I didn’t want the book to end, I wanted more entertaining and/or scandalous tales from the inside of F1, boy did they get up to some antics. Wives, girlfriends and mothers do not read this! I enjoyed getting a different perspective about how a race day comes together, all the background knowledge and the personal stories about the different characters involved in putting on the show that is F1. I think Marc Priestley has given us a great insight into the workings of a race team and the crucial role each member plays in putting the show on the road. Brilliant, a great read for any motor racing fan.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the moment I started reading it. I'm a fan of Formula 1 and found it very interesting reading about some of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes in the pit lane etc. The author has had an impressive career as a mechanic and reporter and has also worked with some of the greatest racing drivers in the history of F1 as well.

I was hoping for more inside information, but interesting read

I was disappointed that Marc's book which is very well written by the way, did not cover the pit lane as I expected. Certainly we learn what life was like 'outside' of the garage in the mechanics rare time off. And the many Kimi fans will I'm sure enjoy the rare insights into his world. What was missing for me were the 'secrets of the pit lane' itself. There is little material covering the broader activity of the garage and pit lane during Grand Prix weekends, and mentions of Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh in their race capacities are almost non-existent. There is however plenty from Marc's experience as a pit stop crew member and the stresses and strains and maybe that will be enough for most readers. Maybe I was expecting too much from the books sub title, others will I'm sure be well satisfied.

Brought this my nan in law that loves F1 she absolutely loved this book finished it in within a few days She said it was extremely interesting to see what happens in the mechanics stations

Nice to read and learn about F1 from a mechanic perspective. I have spent only two days to finish this book, so it’s an interesting read. Mostly about the real life stories of McLaren from 2000s seasons.

haven't finished yet, so far has been enjoying it

Being a formula 1 fan and having followed McLaren since 1999, reading this memoir was one of the most entertaining experiences. The writing easy on the mind. Marc combines his journey with that of McLaren's very well in the period between 2000 and 2008. Especially interesting part was about the inner experiences during the disastrous 2007 season. The book hooks you very early and keeps you hooked till the end.

Bouquin super intéressant pour découvrir les coulisses d'une équipe de Formule 1. L'ensemble est en anglais mais aisément compréhensible

Amazon book, written in a very passionate way.