Brown admits to using psychological tactics to destabilise rival F1 teams

19:30, 07 Jan

bySamson Ero

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has opened up on the mind games and tactics he employs in an effort to destabilise rival Formula 1 teams.

“...but we are trying to, in our sport, destabilise other teams.”

- Zak Brown

Speaking on talkSPORT, the 54-year-old explained how the fierce competition in Formula 1 often pushes teams to adopt various strategies to gain an advantage over their rivals. Brown noted that the political nature of the sport extends far beyond the race track.

“Because it depends on what it is: drivers, teams, sponsors, employees. I mean, you’re fighting hard, which I think is one of the things that Drive to Survive shows so well. In our sport, the competition off the field is as great as it is on the field, and it’s very political,” he began.

The McLaren chief continued by emphasising that McLaren actively looks for ways to unsettle competitors.

“I’m not an expert in other sports, but we are trying to, in our sport, destabilise other teams. So we’re not just trying to make our team as strong as possible.”

McLaren CEO, Zak Brown - Photo: Race Pictures

Referencing the psychological edge teams often pursue, even among drivers themselves, Brown continued:

“Andrea [Stella], our team principal, calls it poison biscuits because you are trying… and you see it with the drivers, right? They talk trash to each other, and that’s all mental to try and get in each other’s heads and we do that at every level.”

Brown, who through the years has developed into one of Formula 1’s most vocal characters, has not held back his thoughts on certain matters. In recent years, he was often locked in a war of words with former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner – one he also sometimes takes cheeky swipes at.

Brown admits F1 misses Horner

Earlier, Brown admitted the F1 paddock misses the character of Horner. The American acknowledged the former Red Bull team principal as an unbelievable team boss.

Brown, in his words, however stressed he expects the 52-year-old to make a return to F1 in the near future.

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