McLaren enters the first month of the 2026 season with more questions than expected. After dominating last year’s championship with a historic double—drivers and constructors—the Woking-based team now faces a challenging start, marked by technical issues, missed starts, and regulations that have so far favored Mercedes and Ferrari. Yet, at the heart of the team, there is no trace of pessimism: Zak Brown has chosen to respond decisively, turning frustration into a message of confidence and identity. Despite everything, McLaren believes a return to victory is only a matter of time—and not much time at that.
A tough start that doesn’t shake internal confidence
McLaren comes off two difficult weekends: Oscar Piastri’s accident while heading to the grid in Australia, the double “did not start” in Shanghai, and an RB22 that has collected just 18 points, leaving the team third in the constructors’ championship.
During the post-race debrief, Zak Brown spoke directly to the staff with a motivating tone, emphasizing what McLaren has built over the past years:
“We have the two best drivers in the world, we have the best team in the world, we have the best culture in any team, so let’s move forward, let’s go to Japan, let’s race with these cars—we will all continue to do what we do.”
He then reinforced his message with a promise that sounds like a manifesto:
“I can’t wait for the wins to come. I guarantee that when we win our next race—which will happen sooner rather than later—we won’t be thinking about fast tracks, batteries, or anything else: we’ll only be thinking about this: ‘We are winning Grand Prix.’”
Technical challenges and lessons from the first two weekends
Before Brown’s intervention, team principal Andrea Stella offered a clear-eyed assessment of the situation, acknowledging lost points and their potential impact at the end of the season:
“The most damaging aspect of not being able to start is the championship points. At the moment, Mercedes seems to be in a league of its own, and we are a bit closer to Ferrari, but of course, we race with the ambition of competing for significant results.”
Stella didn’t hide his frustration:
“We are simply losing ground. These points could have been crucial at the end of the season. […] It’s also quite regrettable and disappointing for our fans and our partners, both commercially and technically.”
But he also highlighted a crucial point: McLaren is learning quickly.
“At the same time, I think we are learning quite fast. With what we learned in Australia and during the Sprint [in China], we believe we are now in a strong position, especially in terms of maximizing the power unit.”
A team hurt but aware of its value
McLaren is not a team in crisis: it is a team wounded but aware of its worth. Technical problems have slowed the start of the season but have not undermined internal confidence or the solidity of the project. Zak Brown has chosen to turn difficulties into a message of identity, while Andrea Stella has provided constructive analysis. And if there is one thing McLaren has demonstrated in recent years, it is the ability to react quickly and intelligently. Wins have not yet arrived, but in Woking, they are convinced it is only a matter of time. This time, no one seems willing to doubt it.
The focus now shifts to how quickly McLaren can translate these lessons into on-track results. With the Japanese Grand Prix on the horizon, the team is working tirelessly to ensure that their technical package matches the high-level culture and driver talent that Zak Brown continues to champion.
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