Brown: 'McLaren's desire to win is off the chart'

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As a new dawn emerges for McLaren in 2018, Zak Brown says the team's desire and motivation to return to the winner's circle has never been stronger.

The Woking-based outfit put an end last year to its agonizing three-year relationship with Honda, and has switched its engine allegiance to Renault.

The letdowns and the disappointments from the past led to huge frustrations for Formula 1's second most successful outfit, but never to a complete collapse of the legendary McLaren spirit which remains intact.

"The unbelievable thing about this place is, when you walk the halls, this is a team that has won 20 world championships and everyone is very proud," Brown told Racer.

"I've never been to a place where for so many people their life is McLaren or they wanted to work at McLaren their whole life.

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"I'm not sure many companies have that level of enthusiasm from their employees.

"Take Fortune 500 Company X, you probably don't walk into Coca-Cola and someone says, 'I've wanted to work for Coca-Cola my whole life.'

"No disrespect to Coca-Cola, but McLaren is like that, Ferrari would be like that – big passion.

McLaren's MCL32 chassis was among the best on the grid in 2017, its performance level validating the expertise of an engineering team which is raring to hit the ground running with a new design powered by Renault.

The prospect of returning to the winner's circle in 2018 has undoubtedly put a spring in the step of every McLaren employee, according to Brown.

"Energy, enthusiasm, excitement are kind of at an all-time high, certainly within the last five years.

"Morale is great, people are working hard, we're excited. We've got a new livery coming, we've got a new garage coming, we've got a new engine coming, we've got the two drivers we wanted...

"Everyone's working well together. Eric [Boullier] is happy with everything that he has. I asked him the other day 'Anything else you need?' 'Nope, I got what I need.'

"So everyone is excited and the anticipation is building. I wish Australia was tomorrow.

"Desire to get back to our winning ways is off the chart. It's really made everyone more hungry and I think that's a good place for the organization to be.

"A really hungry McLaren, that's a good thing."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.