Brown: We're expecting and anticipating to move forward

Thursday, 20 December 2018 at 08:47

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While McLaren Formula 1 boss Zak Brown is keen to avoid predictions that will leave him red-faced again, he is nevertheless confident that McLaren will turn the corner in 2019 and put behind the worst spell in the team's distinguished history.

Looking to the future in an interview with Sky F1, Brown said, "We want to stay away from predictions, which is something which has got us into trouble in the past. What I can say is this has been a very disappointing year and we're expecting and anticipating to move forward."

Hardly the ambitious prediction like he made last year when he said that with Renault power his team was targeting victories and to at least match Red Bull. Quite the opposite transpired, only the excellence of now-departed Fernando Alonso is what gave their season a semblance of decency with sixth place in the constructors' championship when their real place in the pecking order, on average was ninth or last.

While McLaren are restructuring as they prepare for the 2019 season, their rivals are sure to make progress too, a fact that Brown acknowledged, "We have no idea where the competition is other than speculation. I don't think we will know until we get to Barcelona [testing] but we are pleased with the progress we have made."

"There's a decent amount of new development with the aero [rules] which hopefully gives us a chance and a bit of a reset because we need to get it right this time. So we're just hoping to be much more competitive."

By all accounts, there is a revolving door for new and old staff entering or leaving the MTC, big changes across the ranks while the team waits on their new technical chief James Key.

The American marketing guru turned team chief, revealed, "We have done things differently. Everyone is working well together so it feels like a more quiet confidence but we're on our toes. we know this is an important year for us to show progress and that comes with some exciting nervous energy."

"We know we are not going to get there overnight. It is going to feel good before it looks good because there is a lag in what we do today doesn't hit the track tomorrow," explained Brown.