UNBELIEVABLE: The management culture that has helped McLaren’s push to F1 tit… Read more
McLaren’s Success in F1 Attributed to Constructive Criticism and Effective Leadership
McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, believes that the team’s success in Formula 1 can be attributed to its ability to be constructively critical of itself. The Woking-based squad ended a 26-year wait for constructors’ championship success this year, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri securing the crown at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Brown, who joined the team in 2016, has been instrumental in transforming McLaren’s fortunes. He believes that his leadership style, which emphasizes the importance of being constructively critical, has been a key factor in the team’s success.
“I think one of the things that I’m good at is getting the best people in their roles and pushing them hard,” Brown said in an exclusive interview with (Motorsport) “I give them constant feedback, but I also let them do their job. It’s about getting the best out of them and driving the pace of the organization.”
Brown also emphasized the importance of having a strong leadership team that is not afraid to speak up and challenge each other. “My leadership team is about 10-strong, and we’re all very comfortable with each other,” he said. “We challenge each other, and we’re immensely loyal to each other. We disagree with each other, but it’s always very constructive.”
Brown believes that this approach has helped McLaren to chart the right path and make the necessary decisions to achieve success. “My leadership team is comfortable saying, ‘Zak, I think you got it wrong here,'” he said. “I can push back, and they will push back again, but it’s always very constructive.”
In addition to being constructively critical, Brown also believes that it is essential to support those around him and provide them with the necessary resources to succeed. “My mindset is that I’m here to support the team,” he said. “I work for the team; they don’t work for me. It’s about providing them with the necessary tools and resources to do their job to the best of their ability.”
Brown also emphasized the importance of knowing what you don’t know and being aware of your strengths and weaknesses. “I’m very much hands-off in certain areas,” he said. “I don’t interfere with the pitwall, for example. Andrea [Stella, team boss] and I talk to each other, I ask questions, and I share my thoughts. But while I’ve been a racer my whole life, I’m the least qualified person on that pitwall to call a race.”
By being aware of his limitations and surrounding himself with a strong leadership team, Brown has been able to create a positive and supportive culture within McLaren. This approach has helped the team to achieve success and will undoubtedly continue to play a key role in its future endeavors.
