Pembrey in March is never a suntrap. The fifth of that month was no exception. Through the spray came John Watson’s 1981 McLaren MP4/1, with McLaren Heritage test driver Rob Garofall at the wheel. It was the car’s first outing since 1983, and its cough-and-splutter proved it had spent many a year out of sight and mind.

Garofall used to instruct at the John Watson Performance Driving Centre at Silverstone and knows Wattie well. So he was eager to tell him that McLaren was set to bring the car back to life and invite him to Pembrey. Watson would be unavailable because he was due to be in Australia but the test went ahead for analysis purposes.

From that test, things snowballed. Wattie was invited to Woking in May, four days after his 80th birthday, where he was reunited with his 1981 season mechanic Indy Lall – a key player in the Heritage division but who has just retired – and Neil Oatley. After a tour of the McLaren factory, JW was shown his 1981 British Grand Prix-winning car and he climbed aboard. It was an emotional moment as memories came flooding back. “Would you like to drive it again?” asked Piers Thynne, McLaren’s executive director of Heritage (who has recently moved to Williams). “We were planning on running it at the British Grand Prix.” Watson didn’t need long to decide.

After a test at Blackbushe, Wattie was ready to go, albeit a little nervously. McLaren had the car as close to 1981 spec as possible although certain things, such as seatbelts, are current. As for Watson’s overalls, a new set was made to 2026 requirements, but they were as they looked in 1981, with the Marlboro chevron across the front.

Time to go on a busy Saturday afternoon, 45 years after Watson had his day of days, the British Grand Prix – and, of course, the race was run on a Saturday during that era at Silverstone. He had the track to himself and, while he wasn’t after a lap record, he wasn’t going to plod round. That’s because he is one of the most competitive people you will meet. If Wattie is going to do something, he wants to do it properly. So a very different Silverstone took some getting used to.

“One thing I needed to do in the car was get comfortable because it has an inboard steering rack and that means that your shins touch the rack,” he reported. “I wanted as much space as possible. The last time I drove a Formula 1 car at Silverstone was 1983 and all the reference points have changed, so I was arriving at a corner and looking for them rather than anticipating them. Abbey, for example, you don’t see the apex until you arrive. I’d have liked more time in the car just to rebuild confidence. On one lap I got to Copse and thought, ‘This is a bit quick!’

“The loads were greater than I anticipated even though I wasn’t going flat out. It was the first time I’d driven on an Avon tyre, which gave good grip. I was thinking about the next corner and how to get around it, plus I was learning what the new Silverstone looks like. When I got out of the car, I realised I am not an F1 driver any more but with time in the car I would have unlocked more. It was a fantastic privilege to be able to do it and McLaren, especially Piers Thynne, put so much effort into it. The scale of the operation was mind-boggling. From a phone call to be asked to see the car run at Pembrey to driving it on grand prix Saturday was amazing, but I think I could have done better. I always do: it is a flaw in my character.

“At the end, I was presented with my overalls that had been signed by everyone who worked on the car. That was emotional. I never expected to be driving that car again, nor driving an F1 car at 80, but I’m so grateful to McLaren for the opportunity. It was a very special car that won on a very special day and it was amazing to be back in it.”

Reflecting on the 1981 win, Watson added: “The fans that day were looking for something and I was able to provide it. When I think about it now, I still get goosebumps because of the noise and the reception I got. It was an incredible experience.”

The fans responded in 2026, too. Five times John Watson won a grand prix, but Silverstone and the MP4/1 will always be associated with him.