McLaren Racing, under the leadership of CEO Zak Brown, is riding a wave of success in Formula 1, leading both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 2025.
Yet, Brown remains focused on a broader vision, declaring that the team has significant “unfinished business” across its expanding motorsport portfolio, which includes Formula 1, IndyCar, and a forthcoming World Endurance Championship (WEC) program in 2027.
In a recent interview with Canadian broadcaster TSN ahead of last weekend’s IndyCar race in Toronto, Brown outlined McLaren’s lofty ambitions, emphasizing that the team’s recent achievements are just the beginning.
Formula 1 Success Fuels Bigger Dreams
Since taking over as CEO in 2018, Brown has transformed McLaren from a struggling Formula 1 backmarker to a championship contender.
The team clinched the 2024 Formula 1 constructors’ title, ending a 26-year drought, and is poised to potentially secure the 2025 drivers’ championship with either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri.
However, Brown’s goals extend far beyond Formula 1’s pinnacle.
“I feel like we’re on our way. I feel like we’re hitting our goals,” he told TSN.
“But our ultimate goal is to win the Indy 500, to win the IndyCar championship, win the Formula 1 constructors’ championship, win the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, win Le Mans, and win the World Endurance Championship. And then to do it again!
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“We’ve only been able to do one of those so far, which is the constructors’ championship — but in all seriousness, we’re well on our way. But a lot of unfinished business.”
This ambition reflects McLaren’s remarkable turnaround since 2018, when the team languished at the back of the Formula 1 grid. Brown’s leadership has revitalized the Woking-based squad, and the 2024 constructors’ title marked a significant milestone.
With the 2025 season showing promise for a drivers’ title, McLaren is building momentum, but Brown’s sights are set on achieving success across multiple series.
Progress and Promise in IndyCar
While F1 is enjoying a McLaren renaissance, the team’s American venture in IndyCar is building momentum. Pato O’Ward’s most recent win in Toronto marked Arrow McLaren’s second victory of the year and underscored steady progress.
“We have a good run; we’re fifth in the championship at the moment. Just won our first race of the year,” said Brown.
“Not many have won races this year. I’ve never seen, in my years of following IndyCar, a driver dominate like Alex [Palou] has, which we know is a fantastic talent with a great racing team.
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“We’ve come close on the Indy 500 on three occasions now.
“We’re moving into our new shop. We just got the keys to it; we’ve brought in some new senior hires; very happy with our driver line-up. I feel we’re on our way, but we’re still a young team.
“We need to get into our new shop, be able to get our elbows out, but I’m liking everything that I’m seeing from Tony [Kanaan] and Kevin [Thimjon – Arrow McLaren president] who are leading the team.”
A Game-Changing New Facility
The new Indiana-based headquarters – formerly Andretti Global’s race shop – is seen as a foundational piece for McLaren’s long-term IndyCar ambitions. With more space and better infrastructure, the facility is expected to sharpen both performance and efficiency.
“But it’s about how you use that space,” Brown noted. “The shop we’re in now is kind of, at best, set up for a two-car team; we’re now a three-car team that expands to four. We have multiple buildings all over the place where we’re keeping our spare parts, which is not a great way to operate.
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“I think our new facility is gonna give us room; it’s gonna allow us to bring in more technology and operate more efficiently because we don’t need to get in the car to go pick something up, it’s all there; we’ll have better facilities for our team members as far as canteens and workout facilities.
“At the end of the day, we just need to drive the same culture and high performance that we’ve had in Formula 1, which we have — but you then need to create an environment that allows people to operate at their best, and that is not the current environment we’re in.
“The new shop is gonna make everyone proud; a great place for our sponsors. It’s significantly larger than where we are now. So you put all that together, it’s gonna make a big difference.”
Knowing When to Step In – And When to Step Back
While Brown maintains oversight of all McLaren Racing operations, he emphasized the autonomy of each programme, an approach that has helped balance his wide-ranging responsibilities across three major championships.
“Balance isn’t one of my greater strengths; I just go!” Brown admitted with a chuckle.
“Fortunately, the way I’ve set up McLaren Racing is, the performance of each race team is something I help contribute to – of course it’s ultimately my responsibility – but it’s Tony’s job, it’s Andrea Stella, it’s James Barclay in the World Endurance Championship.
“The way to do this is every team is kind of self-contained, has its own team.
“So I fly in and fly out, whether it’s a Formula 1 race or an IndyCar race, to see where I can add value. A lot of that’s on the media side, a lot of that’s on the corporate partnership side.
“And staying close to the teams, but also knowing when to stay out of their way.”
From F1 to IndyCar and soon Le Mans, McLaren’s resurgence is still unfolding. As Brown summed it up: “We’re well on our way. But a lot of unfinished business.”
Read also: Brown fully embracing ‘quite enjoyable’ McLaren driver duel
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