A cost-capped F1 would leave Brown bullish on McLaren's future

Zak Brown is optimistic about the future of Formula 1 and McLaren if the sport effectively implements its expected cost cap measures.

The Woking-based outfit has become a mere shadow of its former self after several years of under-performance.

With hopes of a turn-around failing to materialize this season following its switch from Honda to Renault power, McLaren initiated changes to its management structure before the British Grand Prix.

Racing director Eric Boullier resigned from his position while Brown hired former consultant Gil de Ferran as sporting director.

Liberty Media is expected to enforce from 2021 a budget cap estimated at $150 million, and that prospect will hopefully help a troubled team such as McLaren regain its footing and enable it to pull itself up the grid to fight with F1's current trio of well-funded front-runners made up of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

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"We welcome the cost cap. We had a very productive meeting with Formula 1," Brown said.

"I do think the current direction of travel of Formula 1, if not changed, is a very difficult environment for independent racing teams. Now what you have is Mercedes and Ferrari, who have two other team affiliations.

"So while it’s very impressive what Haas has been able to do with their level of resources and human capital, I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that Ferrari is as competitive as they are. I think that relationship has gone both ways in terms of benefiting each other.

"So if the sport goes down the path of unlimited budgets and partnering up, that’s what you need to do to be competitive.

"Fortunately, Liberty is going to be changing that direction in due course which gives us optimism for our future."

Projected cost cap rules would also include a limit on teams' human resources, a measure that could entice some to cut staff numbers. Brown however is determined to better exploit the team's current in-house expertise.

"You look at Mercedes and Ferrari, and they have 200, 300 more people than we do," Brown said.

"Sitting here right now, I think we need to work better to work faster. I don’t think we need to take people out of the system.

"I think what we are not doing is working at maximum capacity relative to the amount of human capital and resources that we have at our disposal."

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