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Architects of F1 – John Barnard

Sky Sports F1's Steve Rider joined by former McLaren and Ferrari designer to discuss his career

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John Barnard talks to Steve Rider about a fascinating career which spanned over 30 years at motorsport’s highest level. The Architects of F1 can be seen th

Steve Rider is joined by former McLaren, Ferrari and Benetton designer John Barnard in the latest episode of Architects of F1.

His fascinating career spanned over 30 years at the top level and his legacy lives on in F1 to this day having pioneered the carbon fibre monocoque at McLaren in the early 1980s.

Barnard also played a key part in the development of the semi-automatic gearbox during his time at Ferrari and weathered some of the team’s biggest political storms.

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He also helped design the Benetton B192 in which Michael Schumacher took his maiden F1 win during a short stint at Enstone.

Like many of F1’s legendary designers, Barnard worked in an era where big ideas translated into big steps on the track, and when a designer’s job took him far beyond the drawing board.

You can see Architects of F1 – John Barnard following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at approximately 16:15 on Sunday on Sky Sports F1.

John Watson with John Barnard

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