Brown optimistic about F1's cost cap plans

Zak Brown is feeling "optimistic" about McLaren's chances of being able to compete with manufacturers such as Ferrari and Mercedes in Formula 1 in the future as the sport's bosses continue their push to introduce a cost cap.

McLaren made its latest management overhaul earlier this month following racing director Eric Boullier's resignation, with Gil de Ferran taking up the position of sporting director to work with Brown, who continues to lead the team.

Boullier's departure came following a difficult start to the season that has seen McLaren remain firmly in F1's midfield despite splitting with Honda at the end of last year in favour of a Renault power unit supply, believing it would make it more competitive on-track and potentially be able to fight at the front of the pack once again.

A planned cost cap of $150 million per year from 2021 is seen as a potential watershed moment for F1, allowing for independent outfits to fight more evenly with their better-funded manufacturer rivals who currently have far deeper pockets to delve in to.

"We welcome the cost cap. We had a very productive meeting with Formula 1," Brown said.

"I do think the current direction of travel of Formula 1, if not changed, is a very difficult environment for independent racing teams. Now what you have is Mercedes and Ferrari, who have two other team affiliations.

"So while it’s very impressive what Haas has been able to do with their level of resources and human capital, I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that Ferrari is as competitive as they are. I think that relationship has gone both ways in terms of benefitting each other.

"So if the sport goes down the path of unlimited budgets and partnering up, that’s what you need to do to be competitive.

"Fortunately, Liberty is going to be changing that direction in due course which gives us optimism for our future."

The looming cost cap in 2021 has put some teams off going on heavy recruitment drives for fear of personnel limits being introduced, but Brown is more focused on making his workforce more efficient than slimming down the number of people working at McLaren.

"You look at Mercedes and Ferrari, and they have 200, 300 more people than we do," Brown said.

"Sitting here right now, I think we need to work better to work faster. I don’t think we need to take people out of the system.

"I think what we are not doing is working at maximum capacity relative to the amount of human capital and resources that we have at our disposal."