Jonas Leo
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, has voiced strong confidence in his team’s ability to ascend to the pinnacle of Formula 1, asserting that McLaren possesses the capacity to develop the fastest car on the grid before the conclusion of the current technical regulation cycle. Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast with former F1 TV presenter Will Buxton, Brown outlined an ambitious timeline for the Woking-based outfit, currently third in the Constructors’ Championship, to challenge for outright dominance, drawing parallels to the team’s historical resilience and recent performance surges.
Brown’s declaration comes as McLaren navigates a period of significant resurgence, having dramatically improved its standing in Formula 1 over the past 18 months. The American executive cited the team’s inherent capability for rapid development, noting, "I’ve got a lot of confidence, but it’s going to be very tough. The other 10 teams in Formula 1, these are the best racing teams in the world. So, the competition never sits still." He underscored McLaren’s proven ability to rebound, stating, "But we have gone from ninth to quickest. So, we can definitely go from third to quickest. It’ll take some time." This reference implicitly highlights McLaren’s historical pedigree as a multiple Constructors’ Champion and its more recent, impressive mid-season turnaround in 2023, which saw the team transform from a back-marker contender to a consistent podium threat.
McLaren’s journey back to the front of the grid has been a multi-year project under Brown’s leadership, following a challenging period marked by underperformance and engine struggles in the mid-2010s. The team, steeped in a legacy of champions like Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, and Lewis Hamilton, embarked on a comprehensive restructuring program. This included significant investments in infrastructure, such as a state-of-the-art wind tunnel and a new simulator, which are now fully operational and contributing to the team’s development capabilities. Key personnel changes, notably the appointment of Andrea Stella as Team Principal in late 2022, have also been credited with fostering a more cohesive and technically driven environment.
The tangible results of this rebuilding effort became evident during the 2023 season. After a difficult start, a series of aggressive upgrade packages introduced from the Austrian Grand Prix onwards propelled McLaren from being among the slowest teams to consistently challenging for podiums. Drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri frequently outperformed expectations, securing nine podium finishes between them, with Norris alone collecting seven. Piastri also secured a Sprint Race victory in Qatar. This remarkable mid-season transformation, which saw McLaren leapfrog rivals to finish fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with 302 points, serves as a powerful testament to the team’s current engineering and operational prowess. It is this recent history that likely underpins Brown’s confidence in the "ninth to quickest" narrative.
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The 2024 season has seen McLaren build on this momentum. Currently occupying third position in the Constructors’ Championship with 159 points, the team has firmly established itself within the sport’s leading pack, trailing only Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari. The season has been marked by several strong performances, including Lando Norris’s maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix victory at the Miami Grand Prix. This win, coupled with a Sprint Race victory in Miami, represented a significant milestone for both Norris and the team, breaking a long dry spell for the British driver and affirming McLaren’s genuine front-running potential. Brown alluded to these recent successes, stating, "We won the sprint in Miami. We almost won the race in Miami. We almost won the race in Japan." These near-misses, particularly in Japan where Norris secured a podium, and in Miami where he ultimately clinched the main race, underscore the car’s competitive pace across diverse circuit characteristics. Oscar Piastri has also contributed significantly, securing consistent points finishes and demonstrating strong race craft, notably with a second-place finish in the Qatar Sprint Race in 2023 and several strong performances in 2024.
Brown also offered his perspective on the broader competitive landscape, which he believes is becoming increasingly tight. "I think the whole thing’s closing up," he observed. He referenced recent shifts in performance, noting, "Max almost won at the weekend, and Max at the beginning of the year, they were the fourth, fifth quickest team." While Verstappen and Red Bull have largely dominated the current regulatory era, Brown’s comment reflects the perceived narrowing of the performance gap, with other teams now capable of challenging for victories. Ferrari, for instance, has demonstrated strong form, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc securing victories, while Mercedes, despite their current struggles, remains a formidable competitor with a strong development capacity.
In a lighthearted remark reflecting the sport’s evolving dynamics, Brown also acknowledged the recent success of rival teams and drivers. "Mercedes has done a great job," he commented. He also congratulated Lewis Hamilton on his move to Ferrari and his recent victory, stating, "Great to see Lewis get his first win in Ferrari colours. He can take some time now to worry about the second because now it’s our turn next. But great to see for Lewis. I’m a Lewis fan. I think that was cool for the sport." This blend of competitive ambition and sportsmanship is characteristic of Brown’s public persona.
Looking ahead, Brown remains steadfast in his prediction for the current season and the broader regulation cycle. "I think your top four teams are always going to be your top four teams," he asserted, referring to Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren. "We’re going to do our best to not let there be a top five, it’ll be six other teams trying to knock on the door, getting into the big four." He projected a highly competitive year, anticipating that all four leading teams would secure race victories. "I think all four teams will win races this year. Two already have. We’ve been close. Red Bull’s been close. And I think it’s going to be an exciting season. And we’re only a third of the way through."
The current technical regulations, introduced in 2022, are set to remain largely stable until the end of the 2025 season, providing a fixed framework within which teams can optimize their designs. The subsequent overhaul of regulations for 2026, focusing on new power unit architectures and revised aerodynamic concepts, represents a significant reset for the sport. Brown’s confidence in McLaren developing the fastest car "before the current regulation cycle ends" places a specific emphasis on the 2025 season as a potential peak for the team under the current rulebook. This window offers McLaren a clear target to capitalize on its current trajectory and infrastructure investments, aiming to translate its consistent front-running performances into sustained championship contention. The coming months and the next season will be critical in determining whether Brown’s ambitious timeline for McLaren’s return to F1 supremacy can be fully realized.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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