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F1 News & Discussions => F1 Teams => Topic started by: cosworth151 on November 22, 2016, 12:14:17 PM

Title: Zak Brown New Head of McLaren
Post by: cosworth151 on November 22, 2016, 12:14:17 PM

The other shoe has fallen. Zak Brown has been named Executive Director of McLaren Technology Group. The former chief executive of the CSM sport marketing and entertainment group will replace Ron Dennis.

Big, big shoes to fill.

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/inside-the-mtc/mclaren-technology-group-announcement/

Title: Re: Zak Brown New Head of McLaren
Post by: Steve A. on November 22, 2016, 12:44:37 PM

It will be interesting to see how Mclaren develope from now. They are on the up at the moment but will it continue,  will car development be lost in a disorganised team.  Roll on next year.

Title: Re: Zak Brown New Head of McLaren
Post by: John S on November 22, 2016, 01:47:16 PM

Like everyone else I'm sorry to see Ron side lined, however I'm guessing Zak will not have the same day to day hands on with the race team as Ron. The appointment of Jost Capito alongside/above Boullier by Ron earlier in the year should mean that the F1 race team functions more like other big teams with all the design, build and trackside operations at arms length from the main parent board.

This may even be a good thing as it should refocus the efforts of the F1 team on to satisfying targets set by others. I'm starting to form the opinion that maybe Ron was too close to the day to day F1 operation that he was unable to successfully delegate enough of the responsibility for team members to step up and own, let alone solve, awkward and long standing problems.   
       

Title: Re: Zak Brown New Head of McLaren
Post by: cosworth151 on November 22, 2016, 05:35:02 PM

There were some reports that had mentioned Brown as a possible replacement for Bernie. It looks like that's not on now.

Title: Re: Zak Brown New Head of McLaren
Post by: cosworth151 on November 25, 2016, 02:18:25 PM

I just heard on NBC's FP2 broadcast that Mobil 1 will be leaving McLaren after many years of sponsorship. That's going to put a dent in the budget.

Title: Re: Zak Brown New Head of McLaren
Post by: J.Clark on November 25, 2016, 09:42:29 PM

Interesting that Dennis and Mobil are leaving at the same time.

I heard or read something about Brown having initially agreeing to working with Ron Dennis for a significant amount of time to get a perspective of the relationship to the team and how it all fits together.  This seems to indicate that Ron is leaving and Zak will be taking over without any overlap.  Dennis still owns something like 25% of the team too, so how will that work?


It will be different.
How it will server McLaren remains to be seen.

Title: Re: Zak Brown New Head of McLaren
Post by: Steve A. on November 26, 2016, 09:15:19 AM

I can see Dennis back in charge by next season.