Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, has laid out the team’s aspirations for the remainder of the season, aiming to solidify their position as the second-best team behind the unstoppable Red Bull outfit.
With Red Bull’s dominance at the forefront, McLaren seeks to build on recent progress and secure a satisfying finish in the Constructors’ standings.
The Formula 1 championship has been unequivocally dominated by the Red Bull team, who have secured victory in all 12 races and all three Sprint events, accumulating a substantial 256-point lead over Mercedes.
Max Verstappen, their prodigious driver, has been the driving force behind this triumph, boasting a commanding 125-point lead in the Drivers’ standings.
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While Red Bull continues to establish their supremacy, the battle for the runner-up spot in the Constructors’ standings has intensified, involving Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Ferrari.
McLaren has now joined this contest, spurred by a resurgence in form following upgrades introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix.
“Red Bull are an incredible team,” Brown remarked in an interview with Laola1.
“We try to get close to Max, but every time you think you’re close he pulls away. It’s impressive to watch him,” Brown said.
Brown expressed his ambition for McLaren’s performance in the coming races: “To be the second fastest team at the end of the season, best of the rest, would be very satisfying.
“There’s still a long way to go, but we’re definitely back in the game.”
The team’s aspiration is clear—to establish themselves as the most formidable challenger to Red Bull’s supremacy.
The season’s trajectory for McLaren has seen ups and downs.
A lacklustre start, marked by the MCL60’s failure to meet developmental targets, prompted a restructuring within the team, including the departure of Technical Director James Key.
Since then, Brown has lauded the dedication of the team members at the Woking-based factory, attributing the recent improvement to their collective efforts.
“The reason for the recent upturn is primarily the people in the factory, from design to production, improving reliability, and at the track and at home, the strategists,” Brown emphasised.
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He praised the synergistic collaboration among various facets of the team, underscoring the significance of their aerodynamic upgrades in the transformation.
Brown also commended the drivers’ role in the revival, stating, “The drivers are now showing their potential. They also did a very good job before, but now they can be even more convincing in the improved car.”
He reminisced about the exhilarating moments during the first laps at Silverstone, acknowledging the palpable excitement of witnessing their progress.