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MATTHEW SYED

When scientists and engineers come together, they win grand prix races . . . then save lives

The Sunday Times

The sun was setting over the concrete horizon in Abu Dhabi when Lewis Hamilton’s sleek, grey supercar pulled into the pit lane. I was with the Mercedes Formula One team at the season-ending grand prix in 2014, observing the engineers as they went about their business. As the car stopped, 16 crew jumped out, changing the tyres in roughly the time it took you to read this sentence. Hamilton was back out on the track in less than three seconds.

After the race — which sealed Hamilton’s victory in the championship — I spoke to James Vowles, the Mercedes chief strategist, about their success. He said it was predicated on a willingness to “fail fast”. “Engineering is not just about what we know, but finding