AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Zak Brown’s Revolution: How He Transformed McLaren from “Toxic” to Champions

Redação by Redação
February 7, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
“Title in the Bag? Not Yet!” Zak Brown Slams Premature Celebrations as McLaren Fights for 2024 F1 Crown

Oct 20, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; McLaren Formula 1 CEO Zak Brown walks through the track entrance before the 2024 Formula One US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

When Zak Brown took over at McLaren in 2016, he walked into a team in crisis—not just struggling on track, but poisoned by internal politics. Now, eight years later, McLaren stands as the reigning Formula 1 Constructors’ Champion, a powerhouse once again competing at the front of the grid.

So how did Brown turn McLaren from a dysfunctional mess into title contenders? By purging the toxicity, rebuilding team culture, and embracing transparency—even when he found himself the subject of conspiratorial gossip.

“It was really bad,” Brown admitted.
“There were lots of poison biscuits being passed around.”


McLaren’s Rock Bottom: A “Toxic” Culture and Failing Performance

When Zak Brown joined McLaren as Executive Director in 2016, he saw the warning signs immediately. The legendary team—home to Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso—was in free fall:

✅ No podiums, no sponsors, and a failing Honda partnership.
✅ Infighting and “poison biscuits” (as Team Principal Andrea Stella put it).
✅ A blame culture where departments worked against each other.

The turning point? Brown ditched the toxicity and installed a “no-blame” culture, ensuring mistakes weren’t feared but learned from.

“It’s very frustrating when someone makes a mistake to get angry at them. That’s unhealthy. You win and lose together,” he explained.


How Brown Saved McLaren from Collapse

McLaren’s 2020 financial struggles due to COVID-19 nearly forced the team to shut down—but Brown found a way to secure emergency funding and keep McLaren afloat.

✅ Overhauled McLaren’s commercial structure, securing key sponsors.
✅ Rebuilt the leadership team, bringing in Andrea Stella as Team Principal.
✅ Moved from Renault to Mercedes power units, solving their reliability woes.
✅ Developed a car that could finally fight at the front again.

Brown recalled a particularly absurd moment that illustrated McLaren’s past dysfunction:

“Three guys from the gearbox department came to me and said, ‘We’re really concerned for you.’
I said, ‘Why?’ and they replied, ‘We saw three people talking, and we think it was about you.’

Paranoia and conspiracy theories were rampant inside McLaren, but that culture is now gone.


McLaren’s 2023 Championship: The Ultimate Comeback Story

Fast-forward to 2023, and McLaren shocked the world—winning the Constructors’ Championship after 14 podiums and six race victories from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

🚀 Rebuilt morale and team unity.
🚀 Outdeveloped Ferrari and Mercedes.
🚀 Showed resilience under pressure in the Abu Dhabi finale.

“When it counted in Abu Dhabi, our team delivered a two-second pit stop,” Brown said. “That’s the kind of resilience that wins championships.”


What’s Next? “We’re Going to Be Strong This Year”

With Mercedes struggling, Red Bull facing internal chaos, and Ferrari still finding its rhythm, McLaren enters 2025 as a serious contender.

Brown is confident:

“I think we’re going to be strong this year.”

If McLaren can go from rock bottom to world champions in just eight years, what’s stopping them from dominating again in 2025?

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

F1 fans erupt as Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo reunite in thrilling Red Bull video
Motorsports

F1 fans erupt as Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo reunite in thrilling Red Bull video

Garth Milan / Red Bull Content Pool

by Redação
January 14, 2026
Aston Martin’s 2026 project in jeopardy: Adrian Newey forced to rethink groundbreaking design
Motorsports

Aston Martin’s 2026 project in jeopardy: Adrian Newey forced to rethink groundbreaking design

2025 Getty Images

by Miguel Cunha
January 14, 2026
Tymek Kucharczyk prepares to make history as first Polish driver in 2026 Indy NXT series
IndyCar

Tymek Kucharczyk prepares to make history as first Polish driver in 2026 Indy NXT series

Tymek Kucharczyk: The Rising Polish Star Set to Ignite the 2026 Indy NXT Season with HMD Motorsports! In a groundbreaking...

by Harry Stone
January 14, 2026
Carlos Sainz faces daunting F1 challenge: will Williams progress be wasted in 2026 overhaul?
Motorsports

Carlos Sainz faces daunting F1 challenge: will Williams progress be wasted in 2026 overhaul?

Revolutionary Changes Ahead: Carlos Sainz Slams Williams Progress 'Into the Bin' for 2026 F1 Season! In a stunning revelation that...

by Miguel Cunha
January 14, 2026

Recent News

F1 fans erupt as Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo reunite in thrilling Red Bull video

F1 fans erupt as Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo reunite in thrilling Red Bull video

January 14, 2026
Aston Martin’s 2026 project in jeopardy: Adrian Newey forced to rethink groundbreaking design

Aston Martin’s 2026 project in jeopardy: Adrian Newey forced to rethink groundbreaking design

January 14, 2026
Tymek Kucharczyk prepares to make history as first Polish driver in 2026 Indy NXT series

Tymek Kucharczyk prepares to make history as first Polish driver in 2026 Indy NXT series

January 14, 2026
Carlos Sainz faces daunting F1 challenge: will Williams progress be wasted in 2026 overhaul?

Carlos Sainz faces daunting F1 challenge: will Williams progress be wasted in 2026 overhaul?

January 14, 2026

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.