Seven Tenths Of A Second: A behind-the-scenes look at McLaren’s comeback and the lessons in strategy, innovation and trust that fuel Formula 1

by Zak Brown

THE STORY OF MCLAREN'S REMARKABLE RISE TO THE TOP


An enthralling account from from Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing tackling life and leadership in the high-stakes world of Formula 1

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THE STORY AND SECRETS OF ZAK BROWN, LEADER OF DOUBLE WINNERS OF BOTH THE 2025 CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP & DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

McLaren Racing’s return to the top has gone hand in hand with a well-earned reputation for team harmony, fairness and loyalty.

Now Zak’s chosen to invite readers in to experience it for themselves, with all the honesty, conviction and good humour he has brought to leading one of the most storied teams in motorsport back to the front of the grid.

Seven Tenths of Second will take readers behind the scenes and into the paddock and boardroom to explore how the team has fought its way back to the top under Zak’s leadership, and shine a light on what it takes to succeed in a sport that constantly pushes the boundaries of technology, innovation and engineering.

Sharing stories and lessons acquired through a life in motorsport, Seven Tenths of a Second will offer unprecedented insights into life at McLaren Racing and beyond.

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2025

Reviews

[Simone]

A decent read that goes behind the scenes of Maclaren F1 as Zak Brown shares a little bit about his life prior to becoming CEO. He talks about his leadership style and more insights into the mindset of the team. There isn't anything gossip worthy to share, but it was a pretty short read if you're interested in the current Maclaren team. It's written from the mid-2025 season.

I listened to the audiobook, which wasn't narrated by the author, and the accent kept bugging me. It's not my fave F1 book, but also not the worst.

[Peter Mihaere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about a tough, determined person and what it takes to succeed in life, leadership, and Formula One.

If you’re looking purely for Formula One content, this book needs to be read with the understanding that Formula One is Zak Brown’s current arena, not the sum of his story. As a Formula One fan since the 1990s, I’m pleased to have this book on my shelf as a representation of the sport—but equally, it deserves its place on my leadership bookshelf.

Zak’s use of present-tense retrospective storytelling gives the book a surprising dimension. It’s refreshing, quite different from the typical biographical format, and it creates a genuine page-turning quality. This was my first experience of this style of writing, and I really liked it.

I can imagine Zak would be a challenging person to work for—not because he’s unfairly tough, but because his energy, pace, and momentum would be hard to match. For those who are wired the same way, however, that environment would be electric. Throughout the book, it’s clear that Zak operates at high speed in both life and leadership. Even the title, Seven Tenths of a Second, evokes that sense of urgency and precision—and once you understand what that moment represents in the context of the 2024 World Constructors’ Championship, it proves to be an entirely apt choice.

I’d recommend this book to anyone wanting to read about a prominent leader operating at the top of their game right now. Seven Tenths of a Second by Zak Brown is a must-read.

[Em]

I am a massive f1 fan and am very interested in organisational change and culture so this book appealed to me. It was an excellent book. I don’t like rating non-fiction especially memoirs because it is someone’s story. This a mix of a leadership book and memoir. I highly recommend this book.

[Carol Cleary-Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting backstory on McLaren's turnaround over the past 5 years, with a few funny/entertaining episodes shared. Probably more than a 3, but less than a 4 rating for sure. Fun and easy to read if you like McLaren and/or F1 though.

[Ashley *Booksbrewsandbarks* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book overall but hated the narrator for the audiobook.

[ChloeElizabethReads]

No ratings on memoirs, but this was definitely insightful into how mclaren became a top team again. some things definitely counteract the way the latter half of the 2025 season has played out but i’ll move past it, not everyone is as big of an f1 fan/mclaren fan as me!