McLaren budget on the rise but chase for title sponsor is on

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McLaren executive Zak Brown has labeled McLaren's 2017 budget as 'healthy', but the pressure to land a major sponsor for 2018 is slowly growing.

The team's major shareholders, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat and Saudi-born businessman Mansour Ojjeh, have backed up their investment with a specific budget increase this year while Brown commits to securing a commercial partner for next season.

"We have very wealthy owners who want to win," Brown said at Friday's launch of the new MCL32.

"They are not going to let budget get in the way of us progressing up the field.

"The partners that we do have make healthy contributions, Honda's obviously a fantastic and big contributor to our racing team... and we have lots of other revenue streams inside McLaren Technology Group.

"So budget-wise we're healthy."

Brown: the opening of a new era for McLaren!

The American executive who now guides the destiny of McLaren in F1 has already initiated his search for a major backer, but it will take time says Brown.

"No miracles were going to happen in 2017. Most companies, any big decisions they are making are taken by October, November, December at the latest," he said.

"2018 is when we need to deliver a title partner. I already feel that pressure because it takes a year. So I am counting down the days.

"But I haven't seen any new sponsor announcements on any car, including on those that have won the championship for the past three years.

"I think that's an indication of the headwinds we've been facing in F1. With Liberty Media coming in we now have a great story about where the sport is going.

"McLaren is now a good story, and so is F1 – so there are positive times ahead."

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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.