Zak Brown reveals he almost joined Formula 1 before choosing McLaren

Zak Brown has revealed he was on the verge of joining Formula 1's management before McLaren stepped in with a more exciting opportunity. The American executive, who transformed McLaren from a midfield team into back-to-back constructors' champions, said the chance to stay in racing rather than run the sport was decisive.

Why it matters:

Brown's decision reshaped McLaren's trajectory and the competitive balance of F1. Had he chosen Formula 1 over McLaren, the team's revival under his leadership—culminating in Lando Norris's 2025 world title—might never have happened.

The details:

• Brown had an offer to work with Chase Carey's new F1 leadership in 2016, leveraging his existing relationships from DirecTV.
• Initial talks with former McLaren boss Ron Dennis were less compelling than the F1 opportunity.
• When Dennis left and McLaren's shareholders restructured in 2017, a new role emerged that Brown found "more exciting" than joining F1.
• Key motivation: "When the lights go out, I want to go racing" – Brown wanted to compete, not watch from the sidelines like Bernie Ecclestone did.
• He described McLaren as a "mess" upon arrival – disgruntled, political, with unhappy sponsors and fans – but saw a "great brand that needed to be rejuvenated."
• Brown attacked the commercial side first, then rebuilt the team's culture, returning to papaya orange and hiring top drivers.

What's next:

McLaren is now navigating the 2026 regulations. After a slow start, the Miami upgrade package brought performance gains, with Norris challenging Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli for victory. Brown's long-term vision continues to pay dividends as the team aims to defend its titles.