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?