A Lesson in Resilience and Leadership
McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, has shared a deeply personal moment from his career that he considers one of the lowest points. This was when the team failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 with two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso. For Brown, this failure was more than just a setback; it was a defining moment that shaped the future of McLaren’s involvement in IndyCar.
The Woking-based team had high hopes of making an impact at the iconic Brickyard. However, their attempt ended in a shocking failure, leaving them on the sidelines of one of the most prestigious races in motorsport. During a conversation at the Business Exchange Miami, Brown reflected on the challenges faced during that period, highlighting the tough lessons learned that ultimately led to McLaren’s resurgence in IndyCar.
“Especially in the early days, big obstacles,” Brown recalled. “When I started my company, there were many times if the cheque didn’t show up on Thursday, payroll wasn’t going on Friday. You have to have a ‘never quit, failure is not an option’ attitude.”
Brown admitted that he made several mistakes along the way, but he emphasized that these errors were part of the learning process. He often reminds his team that while mistakes are acceptable, repeating them is not. This philosophy has become a cornerstone of his leadership style.
“Probably my biggest, most public one – because there’s been a lot, but the most public one was not qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 with Fernando Alonso, which at the time was the worst experience of my life.”
Rather than letting the humiliation define him, Brown took full responsibility for the operational shortcomings that led to the team’s exclusion from the race. His approach was not to hide from the mistake but to learn from it and move forward.
“But I’m very proud of it, which sounds strange, but it’s because of how we leaned in, we learned from it,” he continued. “I owned it. It was, at the end of the day, my fault because I didn’t get the right pieces in place, the right people in place. I didn’t trust my instinct; all the things that I kind of preach, I let myself down on.”
This experience taught Brown valuable lessons about leadership, decision-making, and resilience. He believes that the failure at the Indianapolis 500 was a necessary step in his journey. Since then, McLaren has made significant progress in IndyCar, finishing second twice at the Indy 500 and even crashing while going for the lead.
“I remember when we didn’t qualify, some people said, ‘Right, so you’re done now?’ I was like, ‘No, no, no, no. In racing, when you crash, you repair the car, you understand why you crashed, and you get right back in.’ That’s what you do in racing. So, that was certainly a big public one.”
Brown’s story serves as a powerful reminder that setbacks can be turning points. His ability to acknowledge his mistakes, take responsibility, and use those experiences to drive improvement has not only strengthened his leadership but also inspired his team to push forward with renewed determination.
