An unsuccessful single-car entry at the Indianapolis 500 in 2019 forced McLaren to make a complete overhaul. Enter two-time IndyCar driver and Sporting Director, Gil de Ferran, to help the tie up with Schmidt Peterson Racing in 2020. A year into a two-car full-season program and uniting Schmidt’s operation with the F1 team employees, de Ferran delivered on his promise. McLaren CEO Zak Brown later admitted, “He did that very well.”

Brown and de Ferran had been friends for years. After de Ferran’s untimely passing on December 29, Brown tweeted his condolences with a promise as well. Now after IMS beat FIA to the punch and paid a special tribute to de Ferran, the McLaren CEO was quick to react.

Zak Brown appreciates Indy Car’s gesture at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

As the sporting world grappled with the loss, IndyCar paid homage to de Ferran as they updated the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s scoring Pylon to reflect the achievements of a man the IMS described as a “forever champion, legend, and friend.”

McLaren CEO Zak Brown wasted no time and responded to this honor by IMS in two simple words, “Very nice.” During his time as sporting director, De Ferran played an instrumental role in returning McLaren from the lowest point of their history in 2018 to finishing third in the constructors’ championship in 2020. de Ferran served in a multitude of different roles for McLaren’s Formula 1 team. He was named sporting director in 2018 but left the team in 2021. McLaren brought de Ferran back in May 2023 in a consultant advisory role.

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Beyond the driver’s seat, de Ferran took on management roles in Formula 1, serving as the Sporting Director for BAR-Honda in the mid-2000s before contributing his expertise to McLaren from 2018 to 2021. Even in advisory roles, his connection to McLaren remained strong, coming to a head with his return shortly before his untimely passing.

Gil de Ferran etched his name in motorsport history in 2003 when he won the iconic Indianapolis 500, overcoming a serious injury sustained in a prior race. The victory, achieved despite physical pain, showcased Gil de Ferran’s resilience and solidified his status as one of the premier drivers on super-speedways. Retiring in 2004, he transitioned to sports car racing, winning five races in the American Le Mans series.

Beginning in Britain with Formula Ford, Opel Lotus, and the Formula 3 series, de Ferran clinched the British Formula 3 championship in 1992 and secured a third-place finish in the International Formula 3000 two years later. Instead of pursuing the glory of Formula 1, De Ferran chose to forge a career in the United States.

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While the world mourns the loss of a racing legend, for Zak Brown this is a personal loss as he was a long-time friend of de Ferran and it showed because McLaren was the first team to pay tribute after the news of his death came out and have planned a special gesture for him.

McLaren will dedicate next race win to Gil de Ferran says Brown

McLaren Racing, deeply affected by the loss, was the first to express their grief, describing De Ferran as a beloved member of the McLaren family. Their statement read, “Everyone at McLaren Racing is shocked and deeply saddened to learn we have lost a beloved member of our McLaren family.”

Zak Brown, a close friend and teammate of Gil de Ferran for over two decades, was visibly emotional in his tribute. In a heartfelt statement, he conveyed not just the loss to the racing community, but also a personal tribute to his friend. Brown declared that McLaren’s next victory, whenever it may come, will be dedicated to Gil de Ferran.

“I am shocked and devastated to hear of the loss of our great friend and teammate. I’ve raced with Gil all over the world and watched him win some of the biggest races. He’s been a great friend for over 20 years and will be greatly missed and never forgotten. My deepest condolences to his family. RIP Gil. The next win is for you! Godspeed 💪,” wrote Zak Brown.

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I believe Zak Brown will want to honor the promise made to his friend as soon as he can. Can Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri deliver a win for McLaren in the 2024 season? They sure looked like the only ones who could challenge Red Bull in 2023. Share your thoughts down below in the comments.