Perhaps no other team has made such a groundbreaking recovery to the top as McLaren. We all remember McLaren as a struggling team in midfield, with Fernando Alonso once likening it to a GP4 car. But for the past three to four seasons, the Papaya team has risen from the rubble. And it was all orchestrated by one man, Zak Brown.
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
Brown is the CEO of the McLaren Racing Division, and under his leadership the team has grown to become the best of the rest in recent years. But his more notable achievement is making the team a powerhouse in terms of a brand loved more than the rest.
We don’t give Zac enough credit for the work he’s done on and off the track to ensure the team wins partnerships and fans who keep the flywheel going. # F1 #SportsBiz
– Vincenzo Landino (@vincenzolandino) January 4, 2022
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
This is made even clearer in a report released by Conviva that ranked F1 teams based on total cross-platform engagements. According to the report, title rivals Mercedes and Red Bull shared the double victory.
But despite a disappointing season that started well but went downhill towards the end, McLaren finished third. They had a total of 181,605,201 engagements and were only 5 million behind second place.
And it’s no surprise when you consider the results of a global poll by F1 in 2021.
McLaren is the most popular team and Norris is the second most popular driver
In the largest poll to date, in which voters from 187 countries identified the most popular Formula 1 team and the most popular Formula 1 driver, McLaren took the double victory.
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
A double victory, a McLaren was voted the most popular team in the world and received 29.5% of the vote, ahead of Red Bull (19.8%) and Ferrari (17.9%). And secondly, Lando Norris was voted the second most popular driver in the world with 13.7% of the vote, just behind the first Max Verstappen, who received 14.4% of the vote.
Formula 1 F1 – United States Grand Prix – Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA – October 23, 2021 McLaren’s Lando Norris in action during qualifying REUTERS / Mike Blake
In 2022, the Papaya team with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo at the wheel is aiming for a little higher in the championship. And a little higher here means “title contender” level high.
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
This is something their fans hope and CEO Zak Brown hope a goal doesn’t remain so unrealistic in the coming season.
Did you enjoy reading this article? Download our exclusive app for 24×7 coverage, latest memes and social media banter. Click here to download.
