Up next in 10
McLaren boss and CEO Zak Brown joins Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden ahead of the 2026 British Grand Prix to chat about McLaren's performance, their future plans, and the rumours that Max Verstappen will be joining McLaren. The British Grand Prix kicks off at Silverstone Circuit on Sunday July 5th at 3:00pm. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 0:31 McLaren's Performance in 2026 2:47 Max Verstappen Rumours 4:30 British Grand Prix Weekend 6:06 Advice for Aspiring F1 Drivers 7:11 Toughest Decision an F1 Boss Has to Make? 7:56 Zak's Thoughts on 'Drive To Survive' 8:29 Least Glamorous Part of F1? 8:46 Final Thoughts #ZakBrown #McLaren #Formula1 SUBSCRIBE to Heart for more content like this http://www.youtube.com/thisisheart/ LISTEN to Heart on Global Player https://app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/HeartLive/ or search 'Global Player' in your app store FOLLOW our socials Website: http://www.heart.co.uk/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thisisheart/ TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@thisisheart/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisheartofficial/
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
So it's the British Grand Prix in Silverson this weekend
0:02
So exciting. It's going to be packed. What is it that they're doing right that you're not doing right
0:07
Um, they've just done a little bit better job almost everywhere. So we've got some catching up to do, but that's exactly the plan
0:13
I have to ask you about these Max Verstappen rumours. We'll see what the future holds or what he ends up doing, but I know what our plan is
0:20
The boss of McLaren racing, Zach Brown. Good morning. How emotional are you about seeing this again
0:26
I was thinking about winning the British Grand Prix last year. and it brought tears to my eyes
0:30
Yeah, absolutely. Last time we spoke was at the end of December last year
0:36
Lando had just won the drivers. You had just won the constructors
0:40
How would you assess the kind of last six months since then? Not as good as the six months prior to that
0:47
Yeah, we're getting there. You know, we've been on the podium a bunch
0:50
Mercedes has come out obviously extremely strong and they've done a great job. So we've got some catching up to do
0:55
but that's exactly the plan. Why is it that they're doing right that you're not doing right
1:02
There's such small incremental gains in Formula 1. They've just done a little bit better job almost everywhere
1:09
Same thing would be said against the other competitors. We maybe could have won Miami this year
1:15
Japan, we got a safety car at the wrong time. So we've had a chance to win some
1:20
We won the sprint. But they're just marginally ahead, but nothing that can be caught up. Okay
1:26
Okay, yeah. It's the British Grand Prix this weekend. I'm lucky enough to be going
1:30
Now, you're obviously a Formula One expert. What should we be looking out for, would you say
1:34
There seems to be more brilliant British drivers than any other time of the year
1:39
Yeah, I think it was the first time in a gazillion years we had three British drivers on the podium with Lewis
1:46
which was an awesome win. So, call out to Lewis. That was long overdue. Great to see him there
1:51
I think it's going to be massively popular this weekend. Weather should be okay
1:55
What are you wearing? I'll be in my heavily branded race outfit
2:01
and playing around in one of the historic cars. So I'm going to get out there. Oh, amazing
2:05
Yeah, Niki Lauda's championship car so I'm going to do some laps around. Are you going to be driving there
2:09
Yep. That's really the only reason I'm going. How much is that car worth
2:15
That's worth a lot of money. Give me some kind of idea of how much it is Where is it garaged Who actually owns it It sitting in I mean you can get Formula One cars now north of million Yeah but what about one that was that particular one
2:28
That'll be at the sharp end. Yeah, it's an epic race car. I thought Joe McCurry might have it
2:32
in one of his garages. That's one of the facts. And tell me, how terrified are you
2:38
of, you know, pranging it? Not, you know, we'll take it nice and easy
2:42
We want to kind of roll it back on the trailer just as it rolled off
2:46
Now I have to ask you about these Max Verstappen rumors because people are saying that Max wants to
2:53
I mean, everyone wants to come and drive for McLaren, right? We're a hot team
2:58
You know, it's a great, great place to be. We've got two awesome drivers in Lando and Oscar
3:03
so no intention of seeing any different lineup. But, you know, flattering in the phone rings often
3:09
I mean, he's a massive talent. So we'll see what the future holds or what he ends up doing
3:15
But I know what our plan is. Let's keep going with what we got. Sure. So you're not dismissing those rumors
3:20
Well, I think, you know, anytime you're in sport, you've got to kind of know what the market's doing
3:26
but we're not in the market. So we need to pay attention because you never know
3:30
But Lando and Oscar won 14 for us last year. I'm looking forward to the next 14
3:34
Yeah. What do you look for in a driver? Obviously, apart from raw speed, what are the qualities that you look for
3:39
Quality of the person, you know, because they set the culture for the racing team
3:44
It's a pretty intense environment, so you need to get the right character. So clearly, speed, talent, bravery, all that stuff you need to do
3:51
But charm as well, because I think they're very good in front of camera. They're good at holding themselves and being great with the general public who support them
3:57
I think that's really important. We don't go racing without our fans. Exactly
4:01
So having drivers that are very fan-centric and fan-friendly, and the same thing with sponsors, that's critically important to be in the full package
4:09
When there are these rumors about driver moves... You won't let this go, James Easton
4:14
He's been very clear. They're not going anywhere. But I think that the team bosses love it
4:20
because they can give a little dig to their rivals. Yeah. There's definitely some fun in pit lane
4:26
in a variety of different ways. So the racing doesn't only happen on the racetrack
4:30
So it's the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend. So exciting. I think I'm right in saying that it's setting record
4:35
Isn't it the biggest, it's going to be the biggest one ever? It's going to be packed. It's going to be packed
4:39
It's sold out every year, but they keep trying to expand it Lando has his own grandstand He about half of Silverstone which is pretty cool Unbelievable Do you have to try and keep his ego in check when things are like that No he pretty good like that I think it more he tries to keep mine in check
4:54
And talking of which, Zach, I've spoke to Uncle David. He's called Uncle David in our David Coulthard
4:59
because I said, right, what can I ask you today? And he said, Ask Zach, who was fitter when we trained with Terry from RaceFit 35 years ago
5:08
I remember that like it was yesterday. It would have been he over me
5:14
Yeah, he was a pretty serious racing driver. He was then. That was a long time ago. Yeah, God, yeah
5:18
Okay. But his dog was fitter. Terry's dog. He'll remember Terry's dog
5:25
It's over a sudden this weekend. What's your favorite weekend of the year? What's your favorite circuit
5:29
I like the three real big in size and scale. So that would be the British Grand Prix, Australian Grand Prix, and Austin, US Grand Prix
5:37
you'll have 400,000 or 500,000 people over the weekend. So just the sheer size and scale of seeing that at many fans is awesome
5:45
What's the most fun one now? The deborged. I guess that would probably be Monaco or Vegas
5:53
would be the two locations for Formula One good old days, let's call it
5:59
But I'm always working the whole time. I rarely see anything other than screens in front of me
6:04
and turn around and see a pit stop every once in a while. We've got a few little texts that have come in
6:09
Good morning, guys. Morning, Zach. I have a massive F1 fan in my eight-year-old
6:14
He loves Lando. Zach, what would you say to an eight-year-old who wants to drive an F1 car one day
6:20
Ooh, go to school, for starters. You know, that's something that I think is very, very important
6:27
And then have fun. I think when I look back at my own racing career, I don't think I had enough fun at the time
6:33
and I think I regret not enjoying it. Are we talking like James Hunt kind of fun
6:37
No, no, like enjoying that you're driving race cars for a living
6:42
or being in the moment. Because I think you get old quick
6:47
and I now look back at the good old days and go, if I could do that again, I would have had more fun
6:52
I guess you forget how, because of the pressure and everything else involved, you sort of forget, guys, look what we're doing
6:58
Yeah, well, you're totally laser focused, and if you not winning you probably not in a great mood but you only get to do that once But you are very focused it not about fun it about performing i had a quick question what what that what are the toughest decisions that an f1 boss will have to make i think it always toughest around uh people
7:18
you know making sure you get the right people the right culture and then uh are you talking
7:23
driver choices with drivers engineers mechanics marketing department you know it's it's um yeah
7:29
You need the right people in there. They need the right people. Because it goes wrong. You read about it all the time. Yeah, and it's all about, you know, sports is all about culture and teamwork
7:37
So it's about not only getting the best people, but how getting them work together
7:41
And you see sports teams, right, all the time where you have a bunch of superstars and the team doesn't do well because culture's not there
7:47
And then you see some teams that shouldn't be where they are because they've got a super strong culture
7:52
So my goal is to have both superstars and an unbelievable culture. Yeah, absolutely
7:56
Simon says, I'll stack if you watch his drive to survive. I have seen Drive to Survive
8:01
Does he find it interesting? I do find it interesting. And I get asked often, is it accurate
8:07
And it is, of course, with it being a TV show, they try and add some extra spice to it, a bit of theater
8:14
But the storylines are absolutely spot on. So I think they do a great job showing how our sport works
8:22
Another question. Was Lewis cheated in 2021? Lewis should have been world champion in 2021
8:28
one okay also what's the least glamorous thing you've had to do whilst traveling the world for
8:33
f1 don't tell me you have to change the chemical toilets no no no the least glamorous thing is
8:40
probably the amount of packing and unpacking oh god i hate that i hate unpacking oh yeah
8:45
oh well listen we wish you the very best of luck for the weekend any what what's the hopes for the clara what's there oh you know it's gonna be
8:53
tough to win but we're going there with that who's the person who's your who are you most
8:58
concerned about? I think the Mercedes, they're super strong. They've won every race
9:02
but won this year, but we've had a chance. Lewis has got one
9:06
over the line, and we can do some special stuff around Silverstone
9:10
I want to say we're favorites coming in, but don't rule us out. We're
9:14
coming to win. That's the plan. It's shaping up to be a fascinating season. We wish you the
9:18
very best of luck. Thank you for coming in. Zach Brown. Thank you. Thank you, Zach
9:24
This is hot. you
#Celebrities & Entertainment News