Sat Sep 21 11:22:26 UTC 2024: ## McLaren CEO Warns of Internal Culture Pitfalls as Team Rises to Top of F1
**SINGAPORE** – McLaren CEO Zak Brown has expressed concern about the impact of internal culture on team performance, drawing parallels to the struggles of rival Red Bull Racing.
While McLaren has enjoyed a resurgence this season, claiming the lead in the constructors’ championship for the first time since 2014, Brown is keen to avoid the internal turmoil that has plagued Red Bull. He highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong team culture, quoting McLaren team boss Andrea Stella’s advice: “Don’t eat the poison biscuit.”
Red Bull, despite a dominant start to the season, has faced a series of setbacks, including a sexual misconduct investigation against team boss Christian Horner, an ongoing power struggle between Horner and racing advisor Helmut Marko, and reports of tension between Verstappen and Horner. These tensions have led to the departure of key personnel, including design legend Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, and reports suggest Verstappen is considering a move to another team for 2026.
Brown believes this internal strife has contributed to Red Bull’s decline, stating that “their wind tunnel is not any different than what it was a year ago. I think that is a moral culture. People are leaving, [there is] lots of noise, look at the top, one team principal makes a statement, then Helmut [Marko] makes [a different one]. Drivers aren’t happy — driver’s dads … but it is the same factory and with a huge budget. So like, what’s changed? The culture of the people.”
Brown, however, is determined to avoid this fate, stressing the importance of protecting McLaren from external pressures and maintaining a positive team environment. He attributes his own motivation to “the fear of defeat,” which he believes has driven McLaren’s success this year, despite a challenging start to the season.
McLaren’s resurgence has been fueled by a series of upgrades, including a significant update at the Austrian Grand Prix, and the strong performances of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The team is now focused on maintaining this momentum and avoiding the pitfalls that have plagued Red Bull.
First Piper 