Zak Brown has spoken about McLaren’s outstanding success in the current Formula 1 season, explaining the reasons behind the team’s dominance and highlighting the fundamental values that have made the difference.
With the Formula 1 World Championship now on its summer break, it is a fitting moment to reflect on the first half of the season, which has been marked by the overwhelming dominance of one team in particular. McLaren has firmly established itself as the clear favourite for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, and according to Zak Brown, there is one key factor behind their remarkable run.
After fourteen races, Oscar Piastri leads the Drivers’ standings by just nine points over his team-mate Lando Norris. While the battle for the top spot between the two McLaren drivers remains intense, the Constructors’ Championship has been effectively decided for some time. Ferrari sits in second place, but the gap to McLaren is so large that any hopes of a comeback are unrealistic. Nevertheless, McLaren continues to “fear” the Scuderia Ferrari as a potential threat in the second half of the year.
The importance of teamwork
In a recent open letter, Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, outlined the attributes that have driven the British team’s success in Formula 1 this season. McLaren has reached a significant milestone in 2025: “We left Hungary reaching 200 wins, only the second team to achieve this in the history of Formula 1.”
From Zak Brown’s perspective, there are several essential elements at the core of the team’s work: “If I take a step back and look at the team, I see a lot of energy, sharp focus and an incredible determination to achieve success. But above all, we must continue to push ourselves to be the best we can possibly be in the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1.”
He emphasised the importance of never becoming complacent: “We are always looking for ways to improve. The moment you rest on your laurels, any competitive advantage can disappear in the blink of an eye.” Brown also noted that the performance gaps in Formula 1 have become much smaller compared to previous years: “And when we look at the competition, we must remember that even our weakest rival is damn good. We are talking about milliseconds.”
While his reflections are more philosophical than technical, Zak Brown believes McLaren’s true strength lies in one crucial principle: “So the secret to our success is to be united and never give up.” This is a theme often echoed by the drivers themselves and by team principal Andrea Stella, who has worked hard to foster this mindset throughout the squad.
Memories from the 2025 season
The McLaren CEO also recalled his most satisfying moments so far this year: “Personally, I have two great satisfactions this year. The first was the victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, for obvious reasons. It is an event that counts towards the Triple Crown, along with the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and it represents the beating heart of McLaren’s DNA.”
He then highlighted another important achievement: “Secondly, winning the Bahrain Grand Prix was a really special moment for us as a team.” McLaren’s ownership is based in Bahrain, making the victory even more meaningful: “The Crown Prince and Mumtalakat, our long-standing shareholders, have been great supporters and had never won their home race before, so achieving the win in Sakhir was incredibly important for everyone at McLaren.”
Overall, the 2025 season has so far delivered mostly positive memories for McLaren, a team that is completely dominating its rivals. However, the most important challenge is still to come, and it will be revealed next year. The big question is whether McLaren can open a new era of victories and maintain their dominance when the new Formula 1 regulations come into effect.
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