McLaren wants F1 success before IndyCar return

Zak Brown says McLaren needs to return to winning ways in Formula 1 before it would consider a full-time move into IndyCar. 

Brown has already ruled out a return to the Indianapolis 500 for McLaren in 2018 following Fernando Alonso’s shock entry last year, insisting the Woking-based outfit must focus on being successful in F1 with new engine supplier Renault, having cut its ties with Honda after a disastrous three-year spell.

When asked if McLaren had been tempted to make a full-time move into IndyCar for 2018 following the introduction of new aero kits, McLaren’s executive director told RACER: ”No. I think the cars look great. I think the cars look really good, but [it's] too soon. 

“With all that we've got going on in Formula 1, while the mechanics and engineers and all that are 100 percent focused, the minute me or Jonathan Neale or John Allert or Eric [Boullier] are not spending 100 percent of our time on Formula 1 that starts becoming a distraction for us.

"I've got to find more partners for our Formula 1 team, so any moment I'm trying to find an IndyCar team is a moment I'm not spending on trying to fund the Formula 1 team, which is priority number one.

"So I think before we leap into any of these other racing series, we've got to get back on the podium in F1,” he added. “As a fan of McLaren and as a racer I want to do them all this year, but as a business we've got to lay out a 10-year strategy and why we're doing it, how we're doing it, how it's sustainable.

"With all that's going on, not only with our Formula 1 team but Formula 1 as a whole, we need to be spending all our time on making sure whatever happens in 2021 we're in a good place. So I don't think any of those other series are around the corner.”

While Alonso will not be contesting this year’s Indy 500, the Spaniard will be taking on the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota in June as he continues his bid to complete motorsport’s unofficial ‘Triple Crown’.