Zak Brown’s £75m payout proves a bigger McLaren achievement than Lando Norris’ F1 title

F1 Oversteer argues that McLaren CEO Zak Brown's commercial turnaround and reported £75.4m payout surpass Lando Norris' 2025 title success. Brown reportedly received around £75.4m ($100m) in 2025 for his role in reviving the Formula 1 team. The payout is considered by sports industry insiders to be the largest annual package ever granted to an F1 executive, following McLaren's rise from financial crisis to championship winners.

After taking a $185m loan to prevent bankruptcy during the pandemic, McLaren is now valued at £3.5bn ($4.6bn). According to Sky News, the outfit is on track to become the first F1 team to generate $1bn in annual revenue, with approximately 75% generated through commercial operations. On track, McLaren won the 2024 Constructors' Championship before Norris secured the Drivers' Championship in 2025.