Zak Brown: “I joined McLaren in its worst year ever”

With the return of Honda in F1 from the 2015 season, McLaren had great ambitions for his future. It must be said that their first adventure together was brilliant with 4 consecutive Manufacturers' titles (1988 to 1991). Alas, this time the collaboration did not go as planned. Far from there. Despite the hopes of Woking and the Japanese clan, the results did not meet expectations, pushing the two parties to end their partnership at the end of 2017, a year after the arrival of Zak Brown at the head of the English team.

« It was worse than I thought regarding the atmosphere there, said Zak Brown during an interview with Fox Sports when discussing his appointment as CEO of McLaren in November 2016. I joined McLaren in the worst year in its history."

If the atmosphere was not in full swing within the team, the results on the track were not following either. After a 9^e place in 2015 for his first season with Honda, McLaren thought that the 6^e the following year would put the machine back on track. However, things did not get better and even got worse since Zak Brown and his gang finished the campaign in 9^e place with 30 small points 20 Grand Prix.

« We were in the second year of our relationship with Honda, where we suffered. Logic dictated that the third year would be better than the second. It ended up being the opposite, remembers the manager who did not wish to focus on the fate of the Japanese engine manufacturer. It wasn't all Honda's fault, it was all the environment. I thought I was joining a team that was about to bounce back, but in reality it was in free fall.."

Zak Brown confident about the team's potential

The lack of performance from Honda's power unit as well as results on the track pushed McLaren to end their collaboration after only 3 years. Zak Brown and his men then turned to Renault to try to put the ship back afloat after a perilous adventure with the Japanese builder. And it didn't take long for the first positive signs to appear.

« Given the number of races and championships this team has won, I knew there was a lot of talent hereHe says. Maybe they just needed a new way to demonstrate it. He's here now, and it's been a great adventure so far »

After Honda, McLaren and Zak Brown chose Renault as their engine supplier. ©DPPI/X. Bonilla

At its lowest point a few years ago, McLaren has regained momentum since the end of its association with Honda. Meanwhile powered by Renault (2018-2020) and now by Mercedes, the Woking entity found the podiums, the path to victory and even that of pole position with Lando Norris in Russia during the 2021 season. Not enough to completely satisfy Zak Brown who always wants more. “ So far so good, but we're not yet where we want to be. »

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