Following every Grand Prix, racer Jeroen Bleekemolen shares his exclusive insights about the past race weekend. Who or what caught his attention, what went well, and what needs to change? This time, he discusses how CEO Zak Brown has transformed McLaren from an underdog to a championship contender.
McLaren has come a long way. A decade ago, they were nowhere. Since Zak Brown’s arrival, a lot has changed. I find that impressive. Brown, originally a marketing man, has achieved a lot in his life and has also made many sponsorship deals. He has a knack for attracting the right people, and also for letting them go when necessary. He has built this up and now has it well organized. Quite an achievement for a marketing man.
Zak Brown: The Man Behind the Wheel
As a car racer, he’s not good. I understand that he has a basic understanding of racing. He also has a lot of passion for racing, but I didn’t expect him to be able to completely turn the whole team around. He has succeeded in doing this by putting the right people in the right place. And his enthusiasm is infectious: you see him giving high-fives, from the tire guys to his partners. This creates a great atmosphere in his team. And that has its influence.
The Power of Positive Atmosphere
You have to make sure everyone feels good, wants to go the extra mile. If the general feeling is like this, you will also make progress. When Brown arrived, the atmosphere was bad: no motivation, no momentum. But he got the train moving again, works with a goal, and looks ahead. Brown can make deals, he gets things done.
James Key: A Designer’s Journey in Formula 1
Designer James Key serves as a prime example of someone who arrived and departed swiftly. If someone doesn’t fit well within the team, they are shown the door. It’s harsh, but that’s the reality of Formula 1. I believe Brown can also be quite ruthless. He may appear cheerful, but he knows exactly what he wants.
Understanding Brown’s Leadership Style
I’ve encountered Brown a few times and have had a few conversations with him. He occasionally attends races that I also attend, but I don’t know him personally. However, I do know many people who know him well. He is straightforward, a true American. Americans always think big, they are not afraid to set goals. We Europeans often hesitate to do so, as we find it too exaggerated or arrogant. Brown may sometimes sound arrogant, but that’s his American attitude. I believe it’s a good attitude because without proper goals, you won’t get anywhere.
McLaren’s Strong Driver Duo: Piastri and Norris
With Piastri and Norris, McLaren may now have the strongest driver duo in Formula 1. If you look at the weekend in Spain: they had the best race car, both should have been on the podium, and one of them should have won. Yet, that didn’t happen. Why? Piastri made a mistake in the qualification, Norris didn’t have a good start in the race. Both had a moment where they were not perfect. And so, they didn’t win. They need to eliminate these mistakes, that’s what both drivers are currently lacking. Norris was hard on himself afterwards. Self-reflection is good, but he shouldn’t put too much pressure on himself.
McLaren’s Dominance and the Upcoming Battle
At this stage of the season, we see that McLaren has the best car in the race. The points difference between Norris and Verstappen is now too large, but I think we can prepare ourselves for a mega battle between the two next season. Although they are friends, they don’t give each other an inch, as we saw at the start in Barcelona. They race fairly, but hard. It’s a duel I’m looking forward to. If they were tied in points, it would be a Hamilton versus Verstappen battle. And I can’t imagine that both teams can’t work towards that: the rules will change little in 2025 and they are already so evenly matched. We will be on the edge of our seats for these two next year.
