Zak Brown insists best is yet to come as McLaren target strong 2026 start

20:01, 13 Jan

byDrew Murphy

McLaren boss revealed he is eager to get the 2026 season underway and show McLaren fans that “the best is yet to come.”

After a historic 2025 season for McLaren, which saw them claim both the constructors’ and drivers’ championship for the first time since 1998, the team in papaya enter the new era as the team to beat.

McLaren made hard work out of securing the drivers’ championship, primarily due to letting Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battle it out themselves.

Photo: RacePictures.

Mistakes led to Max Verstappen unexpectedly joining the championship fight, but Norris was able to secure the title with a podium finish at the Abu Dhabi finale.

Some of the errors from McLaren included a double disqualification for excessive skid wear in Las Vegas, as well as a strategic blunder in Qatar when the team decided not to pit under an early safety car.

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Brown is keen to let everyone know that the errors would only make the team stronger next year.

Writing, A letter from Zak Brown, he said: “The reigning Champions label counts for little when we are all faced with a regulatory reset.

“The new regulatory era in Formula 1 will bring new challenges as the competitive landscape evolves, but our aim is to build on the foundations that brought us success in 2024 and 2025 and maintain the high standards required to compete at the front.

“No one can possibly predict at this stage how the field will shape up in the opening races, but Andrea and his leadership team have been quietly working hard in the background for a long time now to give us the strongest possible chance to get off to a strong start.

Andrea Stella and Zak Brown. Photo: RacePictures.

“Finally, throughout my time at McLaren Racing, it has been you - our fans - who have remained a constant source of motivation.

“Whether at the track or at home, in the grandstands or at major events such as the F175 Live event, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, or McLaren Racing Live in London, your passion and commitment have energised us, reinforcing the responsibility we carry in representing this storied brand.

“We will never take your support for granted, and we are determined to continue delivering performances you can be proud of.

“Thank you for cheering us along and for your dedication to McLaren Racing. 2025 was a monumental season for us, but I truly believe that the best is yet to come.”

Was having ‘papaya rules’ the right call?

The McLaren boss also discussed the so-called ‘papaya rules’ that were often questioned throughout the 2025 season.

Brown said: “We were determined to give Lando and Oscar a fair and equal opportunity to go for the title.

“And we accomplished that - the Championship ended up going down to the wire and was decided in the final laps of the final race of the year.

Photo: RacePictures

“It definitely kept us on the edge of our seats and made for some very tense times on the pit wall, but we wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“It was intense, dramatic, and at times nerve-wracking. But for these two incredible talents to both have an opportunity to secure the Championship in the final race says everything about how we go racing at McLaren.”

Discussing the mistakes the team made along the way, Brown added: “We are racers and have been in this sport long enough to understand that s*** happens, and it’s part of the game - what’s important is how we react in these situations to help drive us forward.

“When we make mistakes, we take responsibility. We address difficult situations directly, openly and constructively, ensuring we move forward stronger and more aligned.”

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