After McLaren’s monumental triumph in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship, dethroning Red Bull, CEO Zak Brown has opened up about the significant cultural and strategic shifts that have revitalized the team. Once languishing at the back of the grid, McLaren has climbed back to the top, a transformation rooted in Brown’s unwavering belief in the team’s heritage and potential.
From Backmarkers to Champions: The Mentality Shift
When Zak Brown took the reins at McLaren in 2016, the team was a shadow of its former self, struggling for points and far removed from its championship-winning legacy. The dominance of Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari during that era led many within McLaren to label them as part of F1’s “second tier.” This defeatist attitude did not sit well with Brown.
“When I started at McLaren, one of the things that drove me nuts was the team would say, ‘Yeah, the big three.’ I was like, ‘We’re McLaren! We’re not in a good place right now, but it’s the big four. We’re just underperforming.’”
Brown’s determination to restore McLaren’s status as a top-tier team became a rallying cry for the organization, inspiring a renewed focus on innovation, collaboration, and long-term planning.
2024: A Turning Point
The 2024 season was a testament to McLaren’s resurgence. With Lando Norris in the hunt for the Drivers’ Championship for much of the season, and the team narrowly edging out Ferrari for the Constructors’ title, McLaren firmly established itself as part of F1’s “big four.”
This success has fueled expectations for 2025, with Norris widely tipped to clinch his maiden Drivers’ Championship. McLaren’s revival has not only reignited its legacy but also intensified competition at the top of the grid, where Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes are eager to reclaim dominance.
Brave Risks and Bold Ambitions for 2025
As McLaren prepares for the new season, the team is embracing a fearless approach to car development. Brown revealed that the team is taking “brave risks” with the 2025 car concept, emphasizing innovation over incremental tweaks.
“We’re going into next year at full strength. The team is not saying, ‘Let’s just tweak a little here and there.’ We’ve got some stuff on next year’s car that is a brave risk.”
While such bold strategies have the potential for massive payoffs, they also carry inherent risks. McLaren’s past experiences, such as their ill-fated 2013 car concept, serve as cautionary tales. However, Brown is confident that the team’s current momentum and calculated approach will mitigate such pitfalls.
The Battle Ahead
With Ferrari and Red Bull poised to strike back and Mercedes seeking to rejoin the fight, McLaren’s position as the reigning Constructors’ Champion is far from secure. The “big four” landscape promises a fiercely competitive 2025, where risks, strategy, and execution will determine the ultimate victor.
For Zak Brown and McLaren, the goal is clear: “Maintain the momentum, push boundaries, and solidify our place as the team to beat in Formula 1.” Whether they can achieve that while navigating the high-stakes world of F1 remains the story to watch in the upcoming season.
