When Zak Brown joined McLaren a decade ago, the future CEO wasn’t exactly signing on to a winning enterprise. Once a Formula One juggernaut, the team had slumped into irrelevance with an internal financial crisis. Ten years later, the McLaren turnaround story is well known among millions of F1 fans around the world.
Brown, a former driver turned marketing executive, has revitalized the team and its accompanying business. In 2024, McLaren won its first constructors’ title since 1998, and in 2025 secured twelve wins including the Monaco Grand Prix. Money is pouring in: Brown says that McLaren is approaching $500 million in annual sponsorship revenue (the team barely scraped together $50 million when he took over a decade ago).
Katie Drummond interviewed Brown to understand his journey and the intricacies of F1, despite her own non-expert status. His story began with a Wheel of Fortune win that funded go-karting, leading him into sponsorship and eventually building what became the world's largest motorsports agency.
Brown's career path is a testament to perseverance and creativity in the face of adversity. He now leads McLaren as a celebrated figure in F1. His journey from selling watches at pawn shops to driving McLaren’s race cars still sometimes brings him a rush of excitement, reminding him that the passion for racing remains undiminished.
