McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated that the wise words of Toto Wolff regarding mistakes have been beneficial in leading his team. Brown and Wolff (images via IMAGO) have been instrumental in McLaren’s surprising performance gains this year in the F1 paddock. The team finished fourth in the constructors championship in 2023, scoring 302 points. However, their performance in 2024 has been even more impressive, currently holding second position and on the verge of overtaking Red Bull for the lead. These significant improvements highlight the team’s growth and learning from their mistakes.
According to Brown, the team acknowledges that they have made numerous mistakes over the years. However, they view these mistakes as valuable learning opportunities. Brown recalls the advice given by Wolff, emphasizing that teams often only truly understand certain things after they have been clearly shown or discussed. Wolff’s words underscore the importance of learning from mistakes and taking them into consideration. The team realizes the full significance of these errors once they are clearly explained.
Brown believes that mistakes made by drivers or the team are a collective issue. It doesn’t matter who made the mistakes; the team learns from them and strives to avoid repeating them. Brown emphasizes the importance of learning from each error to improve and perform better in the future. Every mistake presents an opportunity for growth and improvement.
McLaren’s performance at Silverstone was not as strong as expected, with a third and fourth-place finish instead of a potential 1-2 finish. Brown acknowledges that the team should have performed better but remains confident in their consistent efforts to win the world championship. Lando Norris, in particular, is putting in a lot of effort and learning as he progresses, just like the rest of the team. Brown is not concerned about Norris’s progress in upcoming races, as he believes Norris’s dedication and learning process will lead to future success. This success will ultimately contribute to McLaren’s chances of winning the constructors championship, as they are just one race away from overtaking Red Bull. Both Norris and the team are performing exceptionally well, increasing the likelihood of victory.
Zak Brown expresses his confidence in Lando Norris’s ability to defeat Max Verstappen and win the championship. Norris has consistently shown strong form in recent races, making it possible for him to achieve victory in the upcoming races. The team is fully focused on the upcoming Dutch GP, aiming to replicate their strong performance from the first phase of the season. Fans are eagerly anticipating McLaren’s return to winning ways after the summer break.
Photo from Zak Brown Instagram