McLaren boss Zak Brown admits to playing mind games to shake up F1 rivals
Zak Brown isn’t just focused on making McLaren faster – he’s actively trying to throw other Formula 1 teams off their game.
“We are trying to destabilize other teams,” the McLaren CEO revealed in a candid interview on talkSPORT.
The 54-year-old American explained that F1’s intense competition extends far beyond what happens on track, with political maneuvering playing a huge role in the sport’s ecosystem.
“The competition off the field is as great as it is on the field, and it’s very political,” Brown said. “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.”
McLaren’s approach isn’t just about improving their own performance.
“We’re not just trying to make our team as strong as possible,” he admitted.
Team principal Andrea Stella has a colorful way of describing these tactics.
“Andrea calls it poison biscuits,” Brown explained. “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 has emerged as one of F1’s most outspoken figures in recent years. He regularly made headlines for his war of words with former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, often taking cheeky shots at his rival.
Despite their rivalry, Brown recently acknowledged that the paddock misses Horner’s presence, calling him an “unbelievable team boss.” He expects the 52-year-old to make a return to F1 soon.
As the 2026 season approaches with its major regulation changes, the mind games are likely to intensify. Teams are already jockeying for position ahead of the sport’s next big technical reset.
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