Is this the man to save McLaren?

At the launch of the McLaren MCL32 on February 24 there was optimism in the air, a hope that Honda's new engine would transform the team's fortunes in 2017, but when I went back to Woking two weeks later, to talk to Zak Brown, the barometer had fallen: in the intervening period there had been the test sessions at Barcelona.

"I think the longest run we did was eight laps," says Brown, "and the most we did in a day was 70-something. Certainly we did fewer than any other team, and through the [speed] trap we were 26km/h [16mph] down on the best. Hard to make that up - I'd say impossible!

"It's not where Honda thought they would be, but we know they're giving it all they've got, so giving them grief through the media serves no purpose."

That said, it's evident from recent remarks by Eric Boullier and Fernando Alonso that patience is running thin.

"I've just started at McLaren, so I don't feel a responsibility for where we are - but I do feel a great responsibility for what we're going to do about it," adds Brown. "Technical problems don't fix themselves overnight - we know Melbourne isn't going to be fun.

"It's not like I've come into a championship-winning team, and all I have to do is not screw it up: I've got to step up - everyone's got to step up - and do something. You've got to show what you're made of, although I wish we weren't as far off the pace as we are..."

Thinking back to conversations I've had with people involved with Honda a common thread was always, 'How do you break through the mentality?' The lamented John Surtees told me that 50 years ago it took forever to get anything done, and that seems never materially to have changed.

"Yeah, I think Eric said it best: 'Honda needs to adapt to Formula 1 culture'," reckons Brown. "They got it really right in the '80s and '90s, then really wrong in the 2000s, and there's not been much success in the past two years.

"Over time manufacturers who did it 'the Formula 1 way', like Mercedes, always had more success than those who did it their way, like Toyota."

Frustration with the Honda situation is all the greater against a McLaren backdrop more upbeat than for years. Under the stewardship of Ron Dennis, the team was going nowhere, and many rejoiced when the Crown Prince of Bahrain and Mansour Ojjeh - Dennis's fellow shareholders - declined to renew his contract. Brown, installed as executive director, hasn't been there long, but McLaren folk tell me that already he has galvanised the company.

Given Brown's friendship with Dennis, this could have made for a difficult situation. "Ron himself had been approaching me for years, with a, 'You're welcome at McLaren whenever you want' kind of offer," says Brown.

Having sold JMI, his immensely successful marketing company, Brown was contracted to remain with it for three years, so it was too early to have serious conversations: "I knew, though, I wasn't going to keep doing the CEO role - I'm a racing guy, and I missed it. Then all the Formula 1 stuff heated up."

For 'all the Formula 1 stuff', read the arrival of Liberty Media - F1's new owner.

"They wanted me to be 'head of commercial', which was extremely tempting, and I also had the offer from McLaren," confirms Brown. "I looked at what success would mean with both opportunities, and concluded that winning the world championship with McLaren would be the coolest thing. Mind you, right about now I'm wondering if I made the right decision! Just kidding...

"I was in negotiation with Ron, and then, when he left, with the other shareholders. That transition was uncomfortable for me, but I said I wanted to do the best for McLaren, and all three shareholders agreed on that - even if they don't agree on lots of other things!"

Getting back to the vexed topic of Honda, Brown is in a difficult situation, for McLaren gets not only free engines, but also very substantial backing at a time when it lacks a major sponsor - and has done for some time. The conundrum is that, for all Zak's consummate ability at finding sponsors, unless or until Honda gets its act together, McLaren will struggle to attract one.

"It's not that easy," he allowed, "but I did the Martini deal on the back of Williams having a terrible year, so it can be done. I like where Formula 1's going with Liberty - if you said a year ago, 'Where's the sport headed?', no-one could have answered that, but now it's positive, and I think the same about McLaren."

Another problem Brown faces is keeping hold of Alonso, whose contract expires this year. "Something that's really impressed me about the team is that usually when things are bad everyone starts taking it out on each other, but I haven't seen any of that.

"No-one is more desperate to win than Fernando, and I think, given how things have been, he's handled himself impeccably - and for a couple of years now. What he's said is what he feels: it's hard to say we have horsepower and reliability, because the facts are the facts.

"Fernando's the best driver in the world - he's unbelievably motivated and fit, and he's got five years ahead of him, if he wants that. He loves the team, and I'm desperate for him to stay, which I think he will - if we give him a car."

Brown says he has two heroes: "Mario Andretti, a great driver, and the coolest dude in the world - and Roger Penske. I've been fortunate enough to be around all the big boys in motor racing, and, while they're mega-impressive, they all have some sort of blind spot - but I can't find one with Roger. There's no-one like him.

"When I was making my decision, I called him, and said, 'Here's my situation - what do you think?' He said, 'Does McLaren have the resources and the people to get back to winning championships?'

"I said, 'Yes', and he said, 'That's what you do, then.'"