13 January 2016 11:00 (UTC)
Since the sad news of our former founding member Tyler Alexander’s passing last week, tributes have been flooding in on social media.
The kind words are spread far and wide, from people who knew him from years back, or those that had only recently had the pleasure of meeting him.
One thing they all have in common – huge warmth and respect for a man so many people were lucky enough to call their friend.
While Jenson didn’t have the opportunity to work with him, it is impossible not to have known Tyler’s legacy within McLaren:
Jenson Button: "Really sad to hear of the passing of a true great Tyler Alexander.. Such a lovely humble man and a big part of the Mclaren family.. #RIPTyler."
Other fellow McLaren greats of yesteryear also shared their sadness and fond memories of Tyler, from both his Formula 1 and CanAm days:
Emerson Fittipaldi: "Tyler Alexander is a great loss to @McLarenF1, @F1, and to me. Rest in peace my friend. God bless you."
Alain Prost: "Very sad to hear the passing of Tyler Alexander. I have loved to have him beside me from my first race at McLaren #rip."
Mario Andretti: "Heartbroken. RIP Tyler Alexander. Thanks chief - for your friendship and for what you gave to me personally and to the racing world."
Mark Blundell: "Very sad to hear of the passing of Tyler Alexander a true gent and great guy who I worked with at McLaren and last of the old school #RIPTA"
Heikki Kovalainen: "Sad to hear passing of Tyler Alexander who I had a privilege to work with at McLaren during my time in the team. He’ll be sorely missed. RIP".
Alex Wurz: "Oh no, Tyler Alexander, man I would have loved to have u with us for much longer thx so much for being with us, loved working with you!"
Former colleagues, too, tweeted to show their respects and share their memories of working with Tyler:
Paddy Lowe: "Very sad to hear that Tyler passed away today. A great "racer" and a great friend. #TylerAlexander."
Mark Priestley: "The #F1 world, & the world in general, is a slightly less characterful, hilarious & wise place this morning. RIP TJ. I owe a hell of a lot to this man, a legend of our sport & a truly great friend."
Respect for Tyler did not just stop at the doors of McLaren, but also felt far and wide within the Formula 1 community:
Mercedes AMG F1 Team: "Thoughts are with all our friends at McLaren this evening. Rest in peace Tyler, one of our sport's true legends."
Journalists and photographers loved Tyler’s unique, no-nonsense approach and ingrained racing spirit:
Jon Noble: "Reflections from a memorable press dinner I went to with Tyler Alexander a few years ago motorsport.com..."
Maurice Hamilton: "Desperately sorry to hear about the passing of Tyler Alexander: a stalwart of McLaren and the very definition of a 'Racer'. RIP #F1."
Joe Sayward: "There are so many great tributes appearing to Tyler Alexander. It is lovely to see, but in a way it adds to the sadness. One of the best..."
Darren Heath: "So sad that Tyler Alexander is no longer with us. A lovely guy, a #McLaren legend & a damn fine #F1 photographer too"
Bernie Ecclestone, too, paid his own tribute: "Tyler Alexander was a true motor racing man, passionate & knowledgeable."
Many of us at McLaren, both current and former employees, will deeply miss Tyler’s dry wit, charismatic charm and engaging personality. His most recent book, Tyler Alexander: A Life and Times with McLaren, published by David Bull Publishing, offers a fascinating insight into his pivotal role in the company, from the very beginnings with Bruce in the UK, via the USA and McLaren’s CanAm adventures, to success in Formula 1, and a very fitting end to his McLaren career, in 2008, with the culmination of a World Championship with Lewis Hamilton.
Mark Priestley: "Tyler taught us so much & made us laugh every day we were with him. If you haven't read his story, get the book, it's like no other in #F1."
Click here to purchase 'A Life and Times with McLaren', by Tyler Alexander.
Tyler will also be remembered as a hugely talented photographer. The majority of the photos on this page were taken by Tyler himself, and feature in his stunning book McLaren from the inside: photographs by Tyler Alexander, also with David Bull Publishing.
Click here to purchase 'McLaren from the Inside' by Tyler Alexander.
Rightfully so, the final tribute should come from his long-term partner, Jane Nottage, "Thanks to everyone for beautiful messages & tributes to Tyler. I loved him deeply, amazing man #RIPTylerAlexander."
Through all the years he spent here, the people he worked with and the stories he could tell, he will always be remembered as a much-loved, thoroughly decent chap, and an intrinsic part of the McLaren family.
