Zak Brown | My big break

Motor Sport magazine

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is on a mission to return the Formula 1 team to title-winning form, while also seeking success in IndyCar, Extreme E and at Le Mans. In Motor Sport's latest My big break podcast series, he tells Chris Medland about the moments that took him from growing up as a racing fan in California, to joining a select club of F1 team bosses. Brown recalls meeting Mario Andretti as a youngster and the F1 veteran's advice that set him off on a racing career. He explains how he discovered his talent for marketing while trying to recruit sponsors, and growing that ability into a multi-million-dollar business that became the world's largest marketing company. An opportunistic phone call to legendary F1 marketeer John Hogan helped fuel Brown's JMI business and also brought him in contact with McLaren, beginning a relationship that would ultimately see him take control of the racing operation. Brown explains his decision to sell JMI and to turn down chances to work for Bernie Ecclestone and Liberty Media before McLaren came calling in 2016, revealing why he decided to join and how he has turned the team around, helped by his most radical decision made early in his tenure.