Brown: We need to simplify "clunky" McLaren

McLaren have had a pretty turbulent few weeks in Formula One. Firstly, the points started drying up, then there was talks over Fernando Alonso’s future and McLaren’s involvement in IndyCar, and just two days ago Eric Boullier left the team.

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing believes that the team needs a major overhaul to get back to where it should be.

The team has not won a race since Jenson Button’s victory in Brazil in 2012. To put that into perspective, that was Lewis Hamilton’s last race for McLaren and he has gone on to win 44 races with Mercedes since then.

Even with one of the most talented drivers in F1 history in Alonso, McLaren have struggled to score regular points in the last few years. Whether this can be blamed on the team or the underpowered Honda engines used between 2015 and 2017 is up for debate, but one thing is for certain: It’s not where a team like McLaren should be.

Brown spoke after FP1 to Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle, who drove for the team in the 90s: “It’s been a big, clunky organisation, we need to straight line, we need to simplify, we need to empower, we’ve got great people there, as you know, having raced for us.

“I think my job now is to get everyone in the same direction, get some enthusiasm and communication going, bring in some additional talent so we learn by what some others have done successfully and its going to be a journey one step at a time but it’s all momentum building.

“2019 starts now. I think it’s going to be a few years to get back where we need to be.”

We’re all hoping to see McLaren back where it belongs at the front of the grid as soon as possible, but it could be a while before that happens.