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(SeaPRwire) – McLaren Racing Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished in second and third place, respectively, at last week’s Miami Grand Prix—marking the team’s first double podium of the season after securing its second consecutive Constructors’ Championship in 2025.
As one of the sport’s oldest teams, with a history spanning F1’s 76-year existence, McLaren has reportedly achieved a record valuation of $5 billion under CEO Zak Brown’s leadership, surpassing Ferrari’s estimated $4.8 billion valuation from 2024. Since joining the team in 2016, Brown has leveraged F1’s rapid growth in the United States to significantly increase sponsorship investments, helping McLaren win its first constructors’ title since 1998.
Reflecting on the team’s recent success, Brown’s 2025 compensation likely matched or exceeded his 2024 payout, which surpassed $50 million (£37.3 million). But prior to his multi-million-dollar career in Formula 1, Brown began his journey by spinning wheels on a very different kind of show.
Born in Los Angeles, Brown dropped out of high school and initially pursued a career in baseball, though that path also fell short alongside his academic pursuits.
“I wasn’t a good student,” Brown recalled on the July 2025 episode of The Bottom Line podcast. “I didn’t attend regularly, and when I did, I got into trouble—frequently involved in fights. In fact, I once broke my high school president’s jaw during an altercation, which ultimately led to my expulsion.”
However, during one rare day he attended school in 1984, producers for the popular American game show Wheel of Fortune recruited students for their Teen Week specials. Brown was among 15 contestants chosen and went on to win the first two rounds, taking home a pair of watches as prizes.
His interest in motorsports had been sparked earlier, in 1981, when his family attended a race together and through personal connections within the industry. Using the money he earned from Wheel of Fortune, Brown launched his racing career.
“I sold those watches at a pawn shop and used the proceeds to buy my first go-kart,” Brown explained. “That’s how it all started. There was no grand plan—it just unfolded naturally. So, I suppose I’m the only person in racing whose resume begins with Wheel of Fortune.”
From near financial collapse to recovery
Brown’s entry into professional racing didn’t immediately lead to a seat in Formula 1. After winning Wheel of Fortune, he competed in British Formula Three, the Formula Opel-Lotus Benelux Series, and North America’s Toyota Atlantic Championship. Eventually, he shifted focus to the business side of motorsports, founding Just Marketing Inc. (JMI)—a company built on the network of contacts he developed through racing.
By the time Brown sold a majority stake in JMI to Spire Capital and Credit Suisse in 2008, the agency had become one of the largest global motorsport marketing firms. Chime Communications later acquired JMI in 2013.
When Brown joined McLaren about a decade ago, the team was struggling both technically and financially. Although initial setbacks were blamed on power unit issues, performance problems persisted even after switching engine suppliers.
“There was an arrogance and denial within the organization that switching power units would instantly restore McLaren’s dominance,” Brown told an interviewer in March 2025. “When that didn’t happen, it became clear we needed a fundamental change.”
Beyond managing internal leadership dynamics, Brown also faced severe financial challenges. By the end of 2020, following a pandemic-affected F1 season, McLaren sold a portion of its team to MSP Sports Capital, an American investment group specializing in sports assets.
“We were definitely on the brink,” Brown told The Athletic. “We were meeting our obligations…but without additional funding, we risked not being able to start the upcoming season.”
“I wanted to shield the team from that uncertainty so they could continue operating with optimism and momentum,” he added. “It wasn’t a comfortable position at all.”
A $235.8 million (£185 million) investment from MSP Sports Capital, combined with Brown’s implementation of what he calls a “no-blame culture,” enabled McLaren to accelerate its turnaround.
“We win and lose as one team,” Brown emphasized. “We support each other unconditionally and avoid assigning blame. Mistakes are inevitable, but we learn from them together.”
This story originally appeared on [website] on October 6, 2025.
More on Formula 1:
- McLaren CEO Zak Brown credits rock legend Gene Simmons for business insights: ‘He knows exactly what he’s doing’
- Visa’s Red Bull sponsorship, widely criticized online, is renewed; CEO says brands become endearing when fans form emotional ties
- Formula 1 has succeeded by making the sport more accessible, says McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown
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