---
title: "De Ferran on McLaren: ‘Must Understand the Weaknesses’ in Order to Help"
description: "The former IndyCar champ and successful businessman will instill his personal philosophy at McLaren."
date: "2018-07-09"
modified: "2018-07-09"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22011/de-ferran-on-mclaren-must-understand-the-weaknesses-in-order-to-help"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Formula 1"
  - "Gil de Ferran"
  - "mclaren"
  - "Woking"
---

# De Ferran on McLaren: ‘Must Understand the Weaknesses’ in Order to Help

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/07/zgzupbujnj5sinazd3o9em0korpr3qjd__1st9743.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

McLaren's new sporting director Gil de Ferran is looking to turn the [Woking, England-based outfit](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19129/mclaren-renault-the-problems-continue-but-why>) around by establishing his own personal self-improvement philosophy at one of Formula 1's most legendary teams.

The former Champ Car champion, Indy 500 winner, and successful motorsports businessman was recently brought in after longtime team boss Eric Boullier [stepped down from his role.](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21943/mclaren-chief-eric-boullier-gone-amid-management-restructure>) But will de Ferran's philosophy help a team who has severely underperformed for nearly a decade in the world's most demanding racing championship? He seems to think so.

![message-editor%2F1531151349795-gettyimages-992653882.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1531151349795-gettyimages-992653882.jpg>)
**GETTY**

According to [*Motorsport*](<https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/de-ferran-outlines-how-he-will-help-mclaren-1057549/>), the same process of self-criticism and self-improvement that helped the Brazilian rise through the ranks could help McLaren identify its woes more accurately and therefore fix them more effectively.

"The success I had behind the wheel and any success I have as a businessman, I think came from really trying to understand what my weaknesses were," de Ferran told *Motorsport*. "I was not afraid to look in the mirror and say, 'I could have done better here, I could have done better there, what do I need to do to improve?'

![message-editor%2F1531151366364-qcoull0klfhwcsaumnxpj4mo2ruarsqs\_ja1\_8848.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1531151366364-qcoull0klfhwcsaumnxpj4mo2ruarsqs_ja1_8848.jpg>)
**MCLAREN**

"I realized very early on in my life that success never comes alone—you don't have success by yourself. Very few people are able to achieve many things in life by themselves, most of them are part of a team."

After losing its grassroots star [Lewis Hamilton](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22009/sebastian-vettel-steals-win-at-british-grand-prix-extends-championship-lead>) to Mercedes-AMG, failing to capitalize on the talent of rising star Sergio Perez, F1 veteran Jenson Button, and having a disastrous multi-year relationship with engine supplier Honda, the McLaren organization certainly needs to dig deep within itself to cure whatever disease it suffers from. More importantly, it needs to make sure that its superstar driver [Fernando Alonso](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21979/alonso-on-mclaren-management-shift-i-just-drive-cars>) doesn't flee at the end of the season.

![message-editor%2F1531151391372-g6ce-bxpalhwywfrfey9cyodlstqfhjw\_\_2st5303.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1531151391372-g6ce-bxpalhwywfrfey9cyodlstqfhjw__2st5303.jpg>)
**MCLAREN**

"It's clear to me that the team has a lot of talent," said de Ferran. "Up and down, wherever I look, you see smart guys, guys that have been here for a long time, other guys that are younger and newer, but there's certainly a lot of talent and a lot of brainpower. I think the key area here is communicating, having clarity in certain things, and I think that will help going forward."

Sunday's F1 [race at Silverstone](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22001/lewis-hamilton-lands-record-pole-at-british-grand-prix>) was de Ferran's first outing in his new role, and the results appeared to be better than average by the end of the weekend, with Alonso finishing in eighth place after starting 14th, and Vandoorne finishing 11th after starting in 17th.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)