‘No toxic cookies and no politics’ – Zak Brown on why top F1 stars are joining McLaren

McLaren CEO Zak Brown credited the team's harmonious culture, stability, and lack of politics for their ability to attract top Formula 1 talent. Speaking to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Brown cited Team Principal Andrea Stella's phrase "no toxic cookies and no politics" to describe the environment. McLaren has recently recruited several key personnel, including Gianpiero Lambiase, Rob Marshall, and Will Courtenay from Red Bull Racing.

Brown also confirmed that he held previous talks with four-time world champion Max Verstappen before the driver signed a contract extension with Red Bull through 2030. Despite the extension, Brown stated that McLaren remains open to signing Verstappen in future seasons.