Brown reveals McLaren at 40-year high point

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has detailed the healthy atmosphere inside the team as it hunts for its first F1 title since 2008.

The Woking-based squad is currently chasing Red Bull for the constructors' championship with a 30-point gap separating the two outfits. 

The British outfit took a further 12 points out of Red Bull's lead in last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, as Lando Norris secured a comfortable victory. 

Norris won by 22.9s, marking the biggest winning margin by a non-Red Bull driver since Lewis Hamilton won the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

McLaren has emerged victorious three times this year and has scored multiple podiums as it continues to mould itself into a title-winning team once more.

Writing in a letter to McLaren fans ahead of the Dutch GP, Brown hailed the effort undertaken by the team across the last several seasons.

"It was important that we used this summer break to recharge our batteries because things are only going to become a lot more intense as we get to the crunch time of the season," said the American.

"We’re now ready to come back strongly and hit it hard with 10 races to go.

"We’ve come a very long way in a very short space of time. I remember how much effort it took to secure our first trophy on this journey back at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2019 with Carlos Sainz – and how much this was celebrated - and now we’re doing it on a regular basis. It’s incredible.

"Around me, I see an incredibly motivated and passionate team, fuelled not only by fighting for podiums every week, but also fuelled by wanting to be better every race. 

"We’re P2 in the Constructors’ World Championship and excited to be in the quest to win it, with two drivers both pushing hard in the Drivers’ World Championship."

McLaren 'environment' thriving

Brown specifically highlighted the role of Andrea Stella, who has led McLaren's F1 operation as team principal since the start of the 2023 season.

Prior to that, the Italian engineer held a number of roles for the Woking-based squad after joining in 2015.

"All of this has taken place under Andrea Stella’s leadership," the 52-year-old continued, before drawing upon a striking story about how Stella has helped transform the team and its environment.

"I had a colleague come up to me the other day and say that in their 40 years of working for McLaren, never has the environment been so good. The energy that we’re getting from the entire team has been amazing," he explained.

To appreciate the significance of the McLaren employee's comment, the team has won seven drivers' titles and 10 constructors' championships since 1984. 

"Andrea’s collaborative approach is key to our success, which has been achieved with the help of our incredible team," Brown added.

"It is a collective effort from our entire organisation, including our owners, our board members, our great partners, our people, and our committed fans. 

"Every single one of them contributes to performance. Without them all, we wouldn’t be able to go racing."