Zak Brown dishes out warning to F1 rivals as McLaren boss releases passionate statement | F1 | Sport

Zak Brown has assured McLaren’s rivals that the team will be even better prepared during the 2026 season as a result of the mistakes they made during their title-winning 2025 campaign.

The Woking-based squad arrived in Melbourne with the best car in the field and dominated both World Championships during the first half of the year. No team could get close to McLaren in the Constructors’ standings, but a series of slip-ups allowed Max Verstappen back into the fight for the Drivers’ Championship crown.

In the end, Lando Norris held off the Dutchman’s charge, finishing two points ahead of the four-time champion to achieve his lifelong dream. Oscar Piastri, however, slumped to third, finishing 11 points behind Verstappen, having exited the Dutch Grand Prix over 100 points ahead of the Red Bull man.

McLaren’s mistakes peaked in the final few rounds of the season when the pressure was ramped up. Both cars were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix for excessive plank wear, and in Qatar, a strategy blunder denied Piastri what seemed a sure-fire victory.

According to Brown, though, those mistakes could be the key to sustained success this year. “Red Bull and Max Verstappen pushed us all the way to the final round,” he wrote in an open letter to McLaren fans. “In the final year before a major rule reset, the competition was fiercer than ever, but we relished the fight.

“There were challenging moments along the way, and we definitely made some mistakes that played into the hands of our competitors – which are important to acknowledge – but these were dealt with swiftly and provided valuable lessons that made us better as a team.

“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. The lessons we learned last year – and there were many – are a part of our constant evolution as a team and will undoubtedly make us better prepared.

“We’re a relatively young team, but we learn quickly, and we bounce back with vigour and purpose. Championships are won by how teams respond under pressure, and I am proud of how we handled those more challenging moments.”