Brown expects F1 to reach 'IndyCar levels of competitiveness'

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McLaren boss Zak Brown believes Formula 1 is heading towards "IndyCar levels of competitiveness", with four of five teams eventually fighting for race wins.

So far, based on last week's pre-season test in Bahrain, all indications point to the usual suspects – Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes – leading the field in the early stages of the season.

But behind the top contenders, Brown expects F1's mid-field to be "mega-tight", with the close level of competition eventually extending to the entire field as all teams get a firm grip on Grand Prix racing's latest regulations and their latest designs.

"I’m looking froward to the first race I think!" Brown told RACER's Chris Medland. "It’s going to be mega-tight.

"I think what we’re going to start seeing is it’s going to be like IndyCar levels of competitiveness where one weekend you might be P7 and the next weekend you’re P17 and you’re not actually really much slower.

"Because in IndyCar, it’s like one weekend we’re pole and the next weekend we’re 16th, but that’s how the whole field is.

"I think that’s what’s exciting, is Formula 1’s going to get to the point where maybe there’s four or five different teams that can win and the spread will be 'one weekend they’re at the front, then the next weekend another team’s at the front’, but everyone just needs to catch Red Bull at this point."

McLaren endured a difficult pre-season test with reliability issues combining with its car's subdued performance to leave team papaya with a lot of work on its hands to improve its MCL60.

Brown is banking on the development of its 2023 contender to bring it in line with the Woking-based outfit's ambitions. But in the interim, next weekend's pecking order is anybody's guess.

"We’re not happy with where the car is, which we’ve been public about, no point over-egging where we think we are," admitted the American.

"But we’ve got good development coming – so has everybody else but hopefully ours is at a quicker pace to get caught up, because that midfield doesn’t look like there’s any backfield now.

"It’s Red Bull, a couple of cars and then a big midfield. The last three teams look to be bloody quick now.

"They all look on top of each other, so I don’t think there’s a clear tenth-placed team like there was – Williams look to be pretty good now."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.