McLaren CEO Zak Brown has issued a cautionary reminder that a single upgrade from a rival could dethrone his team as Formula 1’s pacesetter, despite their dominant start to 2025.
With four wins in the first five races, McLaren sits comfortably atop the Constructors’ Championship, 77 points clear of Mercedes. Yet Brown insists there’s no room for complacency.
Reflecting on how quickly fortunes can shift in F1, Brown pointed to Red Bull’s similar position a year ago — a strong early lead that evaporated by season’s end, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the sport and the thin margins separating the top teams.
“I think you saw, what was it, four teams there within five seconds, in a flat-out race,” Brown told Channel 4. “There was no Safety Car that bunched everyone back up.”
“So I kind of feel like everyone’s just one upgrade away from being that lead car.”
Brown recalled how last season’s Miami Grand Prix saw McLaren’s upgrades catapult them to the front, a feat any competitor could replicate, insisted the McLaren chief.
“You saw what we did last year from Miami. Probably the lead was bigger this time last year with Red Bull and yet they finished third in the championship,” he added.
“So we’re well-grounded in the reality of how quickly the sport can change.”
Brown’s concerns are fueled by Red Bull’s persistent challenge. In Saudi Arabia, Max Verstappen appeared to have the upper hand over McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, only for his efforts to be thwarted by a penalty for an opening-lap incident with the Aussie.
Circuits like Jeddah and Suzuka have exposed McLaren’s relative vulnerability, hinting at Red Bull’s potential to close the gap.
Piastri, while confident in his car’s edge, admitted that Red Bull’s race pace last weekend was unexpectedly strong.
“I think our car was still quicker,” he said after the race. “I think it was difficult to be in dirty air. Max was quicker than I expected for sure in the race.”
“I think our car is still very good, but when you look at the layout here compared to Suzuka, it’s the most similar so far, and it’s been the two where Max and Red Bull have been closer.”
With that in mind, McLaren remains vigilant – knowing full well that all it takes is one rival’s update to change everything.
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