F1: McLaren staff ‘sweat blood’ for 25p Freddo chocolate bar

Angry McLaren Formula 1 staff have told the Daily Mail they are considering strike action after receiving a 25p Freddo chocolate bar as a reward for their hard work.

Employees at the F1 team say the atmosphere within the camp is “toxic” and described their bosses as “clueless”.

One McLaren staff member spoke to the Mail, under the guarantee of anonymity, and said: “We have been working all hours of the day, sweating blood, and they give us 25p Freddo bars. The management hand them to the supervisors to divide them out to employees in their team. Strictly one each.

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“The Freddos are handed out when a package is produced on a tight schedule. For example, we were given two weeks to produce the Spain upgrade package in May. We all worked 24/7 to meet the deadline. We got it done in time. So a week later a Freddo was handed out to all staff involved as ‘a bonus’.

“Supervisors are embarrassed to hand them out. We also got a Freddo last year after building the car.”

When asked about the team’s management, the employee added: “We have no respect for them. People are beginning to boycott the [post-race] debriefs because they are a joke. The atmosphere is toxic. We would like to go on strike but people fear for their jobs.”

In reply, a McLaren spokesman said: “McLaren has one of the most loyal and long-serving staff in the entire motorsport industry. Our team leaders are free to reward their staff with spontaneous, thoughtful and fun gifts whenever they feel that a job or task is worthy of extra recognition and reward. This was just such an example, alongside so many others that happen on a daily basis.”

McLaren head to this weekend’s French Grand Prix fifth in the F1 constructors’ championship with 40 points from the first seven races.

Yesterday McLaren were linked with a move to sign Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo. It was claimed the Australian has been offered a lucrative deal to make him one of the highest-paid drivers in F1.