McLaren Racing has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to Formula 1 as the central pillar of the team’s identity, even as it pursues the prestigious triple crown in motorsport. Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, emphasized the team’s ambition to achieve victories at the Indy 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Monaco Grand Prix while maintaining Formula 1 as its core focus.
Currently leading the 2025 Formula 1 constructors’ championship by a remarkable 299 points, thanks to drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, McLaren is demonstrating its strength across various racing series while advancing towards its broader goals.
Expanding Horizons: McLaren’s Multi-Discipline Racing Strategy
Zak Brown outlined McLaren’s presence in multiple top-tier motorsport categories during a conversation on the podcast How Leaders Lead With David Novak.
“We are a Formula 1 team, an IndyCar team, currently a Formula E team, and we’re gearing up to become a World Endurance Championship team, which means we’re heading to Le Mans,”
Brown stated. This expansion showcases McLaren’s aim to remain competitive across diverse platforms while enhancing their global reach.
Brown emphasized the importance of the North American market for growth prospects and competitive advantage.
“North America is one of, if not the most important market for most companies—huge fan base, great economy,”
he explained, underscoring why McLaren is heavily invested in IndyCar racing.
“Even though Formula 1 is taking off in North America, we still want to be bigger in North America than our competition. That’s kind of the rationale behind why we’re in IndyCar racing,”
Brown added.
Entering Endurance Racing: A Strategic Move Towards Le Mans
McLaren’s upcoming entry into the World Endurance Championship in 2027 marks a significant expansion of its motorsport involvement. Brown highlighted the stature of this championship, confirming it as the arena where premier automotive sports car manufacturers compete.
“The World Endurance Championship is where all the automotive sports car manufacturers play,”
he said, positioning McLaren alongside renowned rivals such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, and Porsche.
This move is expected to deepen collaboration between McLaren’s racing efforts and its automotive business, leveraging technological synergies that could boost performance across all series where the team competes.
Chasing the Triple Crown: A Historic and Modern Challenge
The legendary triple crown—winning the Indy 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Monaco Grand Prix—has regained prominence in McLaren’s strategic ambitions. Brown expressed pride in McLaren being the only team to have claimed these three victories, albeit in different periods.
“You put those three together, you have what’s called the triple crown, which we’re the only team to have ever won,”
he said.
Brown also noted McLaren’s current unique status:
“We now are the only team in the world racing in those three huge—really the three biggest—racing series.”
This distinct involvement creates exceptional opportunities for engaging fans worldwide, expanding geographically, advancing racing technology, and forging new corporate partnerships.
McLaren’s Future: Anchored in Formula 1, Driving Toward New Heights
As McLaren Racing pushes forward with its multifaceted ambitions, the team’s foundation remains firmly in Formula 1. With strong performances by Norris and Piastri powering a dominant championship campaign, McLaren is well-positioned to capitalize on the sport’s surge, especially within the North American market. The pursuit of the triple crown and expansion into endurance racing signal an exciting chapter for the storied British team.
Motorsport enthusiasts should anticipate a compelling journey ahead as McLaren intensifies efforts across several platforms, blending tradition with innovation to shape its racing legacy.
