Psychological strategies and “poisoned cookies”: Zak Brown on F1
Many might think that the perfect formula to win a world championship is a combination of a strong car, excellent performance, and brilliant race strategies. McLaren CEO Zak Brown, whose team clinched the 2025 Constructors’ Championship with six races to spare, has a different perspective.
Brown’s insights
“I mean, you fight hard, and I think one of the things that Drive to Survive shows so well is that in our sport, off-track competition is as intense as on-track racing, and it’s very political,” Zak Brown told TalkSPORT.
“I’m not an expert in other sports, but in ours, we try to destabilize the other teams. So it’s not just about making our team as strong as possible.”
The game, therefore, is not just about being the fastest, but also about putting pressure on rivals. “Andrea, our team principal, calls them ‘poisoned cookies,’” he added.
“You see it with the drivers too, right? They throw little jabs, set up a mental game to get inside their opponents’ heads. We do this at every level.”
Formula 1 is a sport that demands a very strong mentality, as confirmed by the drivers themselves. During this season, for example, one only has to look at the stories of Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, and Jack Doohan, or the recent statements from Sergio Perez regarding Red Bull.
In short, of course, the car and on-track performance are fundamental, but psychological pressure also plays a decisive role in determining winners and losers.
As the reigning champions, McLaren is no longer just the hunter; they are the hunted. Zak Brown’s comments suggest that while rival teams try to find a technical “silver bullet” to catch them, McLaren will be busy firing back with psychological maneuvers designed to protect their throne. In the world of Formula 1, the fastest lap is often won by the driver—and the team—with the strongest mind.
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