Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, Discusses Electric Vehicles and the Competitive World of Formula 1 Racing
Thanks to Netflix’s Drive to Survive, motorsports have found a new level of acceptance and popularity among the mainstream audience. The show has highlighted the excitement and drama of Formula 1, making it a topic of conversation even at cocktail parties. Recently, Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, was the guest of honor at a get-together at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, where he shared his thoughts on various racing series and McLaren’s relationship with its consumer car division.
Brown believes that racing technology is usually tested on the racing car and then passed on to the production car. The racing and production divisions of McLaren collaborate on joint marketing efforts, such as featuring F1 drivers in marketing events for the road car division. While electric technology is gaining ground in the motorsports industry, Brown does not think that Formula E and Formula 1 will converge under one technology in the future.
Brown talked about the development process of F1 cars, which is different from other forms of racing due to the constant changes made to the car throughout the year. McLaren changes 80% of the race car from the start of the year to the end of the year, manufacturing a new part for the car every 14 minutes on average. Brown pointed out that upgrades to the car take months to prepare, and it often takes time to identify problems and fix them.
Brown also discussed the potential of producing similar documentaries for other racing series, such as IndyCar or NHRA drag racing. He believes that racing has personalities and drama both on and off the track that can make for an interesting watch. With the popularity of Drive to Survive, Brown has also become somewhat of a TV celebrity. However, he believes that there is still a lot to be done to promote the sport and make it even more popular.
In conclusion, Zak Brown’s insights highlighted the intricate relationship between racing and its consumer car division, the constant development process of F1 cars, and the potential for other racing series to capture the attention of a wider audience. As the popularity of Drive to Survive continues to put the spotlight on motorsports, it will be interesting to see how the industry evolves to keep up with changing technology and racing formats.
