McLaren "laser-focused" on F1 as Le Mans and WEC bids take backseat
McLaren "laser-focused" on F1 as Le Mans and WEC bids take backseat
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has dismissed the prospect of a tilt at Le Mans or WEC in the near future as the team is "laser-focused" on Formula 1.
Following a difficult 2020 for McLaren Group as a company that led to a £150million loan being taken out, a £185m cash injection from an American investment firm, and with a deal now close for the MTC, it is ensuring it does not over-reach itself with other projects beyond F1.
While it is committed to its IndyCar programme for commercial and strategic reasons, venturing beyond that and F1 is off McLaren's radar at present.
Asked whether McLaren would extend its racing activities to include WEC or Le Mans, the latter in particular due to the introduction of the Hypercar category, Brown replied: “We could and we might.
"But right now we continue to be, and always will be, laser-focused on Formula 1. That’s the most important racing activity in McLaren’s world.
“We’ve added IndyCar successfully to our program and that is really to cover off the North American marketplace for our partners.
"We’ve been able to bring our title sponsor, Arrow Electronics, over from our IndyCar team to join us in Formula 1, so all roads lead to supporting our Formula 1 effort.
“WEC and Le Mans are of interest to us but it has to be the right time, right place, right resources. It needs to stand on its own two feet and it’s still early days.
"While being under review, we want to make sure we continue to invest everything we have in our Formula 1 team before we take on any incremental efforts.”
After finishing third in last year's constructors' standings, the team's highest position since 2012, Brown's own focus is trained on catching Mercedes and Red Bull.
"We are going to keep our eyes on all the competition," added Brown. "I think it would be naïve to underestimate any of the competition that was so close last year.
"But our goal is to close the gap to the front. We are not focused on any one particular team or who has got what power, or the best of the customer teams.
"We have one target in mind and that is closing the gap to the front teams.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- 3 hours ago
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- 50 minutes ago
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- 1 hour ago
Adrian Newey: The life and career of Red Bull's departing genius
- 2 hours ago
Sky Sports F1 pundit dumbfounded by key Ferrari decision
- 2 hours ago
- 2
Talented young F1 prodigy set to make series DEBUT
- Today 16:57
Related news
Young F1 star set to make McLaren debut in injury replacement
F1 star reveals how Verstappen and Hamilton rivalry influenced key decision
Norris reveals CRUCIAL save that kept him at McLaren
F1 star hints future Ferrari move after Hamilton influence
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860