What Leaders Can Learn from a Formula 1 Turnaround

What does it take to rebuild a legendary brand, lead through failure, and win on the world’s most competitive stage? Zac Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, which competes in Formula 1 racing, explains how he helped guide the company through a rough chapter of its history, powering through financial strain and declining performance to change the company culture and get it back on the winning track. As part of the HBR Executive Live series, he spoke with host Adi Ignatius about staying sharp in a cutthroat industry, leveraging data and AI to get ahead, and how to lead an organization that is equal parts competition and collaboration.

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HBR IdeaCast
Episode 1058

What Leaders Can Learn from a Formula 1 Turnaround

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A conversation with the CEO of McLaren Racing on outperforming the competition.

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December 23, 2025

What does it take to rebuild a legendary brand, lead through failure, and win on the world’s most competitive stage? Zac Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, which competes in Formula 1 racing, explains how he helped guide the company through a rough chapter of its history, powering through financial strain and declining performance to change the company culture and get it back on the winning track. As part of the HBR Executive Live series, he spoke with host Adi Ignatius about staying sharp in a cutthroat industry, leveraging data and AI to get ahead, and how to lead an organization that is equal parts competition and collaboration.

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Related Topics:

• Organizational culture

• Technology and analytics

• Competitive strategy

• Professional sports industry

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