Zak Brown backs McLaren to reclaim F1's fastest car before regulations change

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has declared his team capable of building Formula 1’s fastest car before the sport’s current technical regulations expire, despite the Woking outfit sitting third in the constructors’ championship with 159 points.

Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast with former F1 TV presenter Will Buxton, Brown drew on McLaren’s recent history to underline his confidence. The team recovered from ninth on the grid to win the constructors’ title — a turnaround Brown believes makes a further step from third to first entirely achievable.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence, but it’s going to be very tough,” Brown said. “The other 10 teams in Formula 1, these are the best racing teams in the world. So, the competition never sits still. But we have gone from ninth to quickest. So, we can definitely go from third to quickest. It’ll take some time.”

Brown acknowledged the strength of the current field, noting that Mercedes has impressed early in the season and that Red Bull — who he described as the fourth or fifth-quickest team at the start of the year — have since closed the gap significantly. He also welcomed Lewis Hamilton’s maiden race win in Ferrari colours, calling it a positive moment for the sport.

“I think the whole thing’s closing up,” Brown said. “Max almost won at the weekend, and Max at the beginning of the year, they were the fourth, fifth quickest team. So, I think your top four teams are always going to be your top four teams.”

Brown predicted all four leading teams — McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull — would win races before the season is out, with two already on the board. McLaren came close to victory at both the Miami Sprint and the Japanese Grand Prix, and Brown suggested the momentum is building.

“We’re only a third of the way through,” he added, framing the championship as very much alive despite the current deficit.