Zak Brown: Formula 1 is at the center of our universe

      McLaren Racing is a uniquely positioned company: its factory teams this year have competed successfully in Formula 1, in the overseas IndyCar series, and in Formula E. True, McLaren’s program in the world championship for electric racing cars has already been wound down, but the British team intends to debut in the Hypercar category in the WEC in 2027, and tests of the future sports prototype are expected to begin in the first half of 2026.

      At the same time, Zak Brown, chief executive of McLaren Racing, made it clear that Formula 1 will remain the priority.

      “We are an F1 team, an IndyCar team, currently also a Formula E team, and now we are building a team that will compete in the World Endurance Championship, including Le Mans,” Brown reminded, speaking on the business podcast How Leaders Lead. “Of course, at the center of our universe is Formula 1, and it will always be that way.

      “However, North America remains one of the most important markets for most companies, if not the most important — there is a huge army of fans and a very strong economy. And while Formula 1 has not yet conquered North America, we wanted to gain an advantage over our world championship rivals, so we are represented there more broadly both in terms of fan numbers and corporate partners.

      “But even now, as Formula 1 wins over the US, we still want to be more popular there than our rivals. That is what our strategy is based on; that is precisely why we compete in IndyCar.

      “Recently we announced that we will enter the WEC and compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans — our team will debut in this championship in 2027. All the sports-car manufacturers compete in it: look who our rivals are — Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche. Participation in this racing series is a natural choice for us, and it will truly allow us to establish close interaction with our automotive business. That is why we are entering the WEC.

      “McLaren is the only team to have claimed the so-called ‘Triple Crown’: only we have won the Indy 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Monaco Grand Prix. Times were different back then, and our brand was at a different stage in its history. But now we are becoming the only team in the world that competes in the three most important racing series.

      “This opens up various opportunities for engagement with fans and business partners, expands the geography of our presence in different markets, and gives us access to different technologies.”

      McLaren Racing’s racing empire continues to grow, and Brown’s assertion that Formula 1 remains the priority is borne out by the results: McLaren is confidently leading the Constructors’ Championship, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris occupy the top two places in the drivers’ standings, comfortably ahead of everyone else, and this year’s world champion will be one of them.

      In IndyCar the successes are somewhat more modest, although Pato O’Ward, the Mexican driver for Arrow McLaren, is second in the drivers’ standings and literally lost his chance to fight for the title just last Sunday. Meanwhile Danish driver Christian Lundgaard, the team’s second driver, is fourth and also regularly reaches the podium, although he has not yet scored a win.

      As for the WEC, that remains a matter for the future, albeit not a distant one.