19: Zak Brown - F1 World Champion Team Boss

This week we have a special interview with newly minted F1 World Champion team boss, Zak Brown. Zak has been McLaren's CEO since 2018, but it’s taken him several attempts to get the right team structure and management team to bring a first Constructors’ World Championship since the heady days of 1998. Zak has developed into a strong leader and here he shares some of his management techniques. He used to run sports marketing businesses and was recognised as one of the best sponsorship brokers in the sport for a decade, but an F1 team has many more departments, all of which have to be high-performing. So what was the secret to finally getting McLaren in shape to deliver the title? Does he regret not being more ruthless at certain races in 2024, which might have given Lando Norris a better shot at winning the drivers’ title? Why does he feel the FIA must make serious changes to the refereeing of the sport in the stewards' room? And do McLaren start the 2025 season as Championship favourites? In the studio to analyse with James are Autosport’s Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Clancy and Chief Motorsport Writer Ben Hunt. Send your comments or questions to: @jamesallenonf1 on X/Twitter or jamesallenonf1@autosport.com. Producer: Dre Harrison A Motorsport Studios production for Autosport

Om Podcasten

Three-time BAFTA award-winning F1 commentator James Allen returns to the broadcast mic with a thoughtful and engaging new podcast, looking at the human side of the sport. Every episode will feature an insightful 20-minute interview with a prominent figure from inside and around the sport focusing on themes beyond the everyday news cycle. Joining James in the studio for analysis and discussion will be a rotating cast of key figures from Autosport and Motorsport’s global editorial team and guests from the broader F1 media world. Thoughtful, accessible and insightful, the James Allen on F1 podcast takes the helmet off the sport. It is a must for any fans looking for a glimpse behind the scenes at the human beings who make the fascinating world of F1. Get in touch with the show on JamesAllenonF1@autosport.com