Brown defends F1 and considers scenarios to extend McLaren’s strength
McLaren CEO Zak Brown was not in Montréal last weekend following the Canadian Grand Prix, but instead attended one of the most anticipated motorsport events of the year: the Indianapolis 500.
While at the legendary American race, the McLaren boss spoke about the current state of Formula 1, the criticism surrounding the new regulations and even the possibility of McLaren one day becoming a full Formula 1 engine manufacturer.
Zak Brown downplays criticism: “Everything in F1 gets amplified”
Speaking to Sports Business Journal, the American executive was asked to comment on the opening phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season and the criticism aimed at the new generation of cars and regulations.
“I think what we’ve seen during this first part of the year is typical of any new technology,” Zak Brown explained. “Since Miami, the drivers have started adapting more and more to the new cars. There has also been a huge amount of work to refine the rules.”
According to the McLaren CEO, Formula 1 may never reach complete perfection, but the current situation is not fundamentally different from challenges teams and drivers faced in previous eras of the sport.
“Maybe we’ll never reach perfection, but we should eventually get back to a situation similar to what we’ve had in past years,” Zak Brown continued. “Drivers have always had to deal with tire management, temperatures and fuel saving. Now we also have to deal with batteries.”
Zak Brown also believes that criticism in Formula 1 often becomes exaggerated because every technical issue is analyzed under extreme scrutiny.
“I think everything in Formula 1 gets amplified, as if people are looking at everything under a microscope that enlarges every detail a thousand times.”
The McLaren chief remains convinced that the competitive picture will improve as the championship progresses, with teams gradually converging in performance as they better understand the new regulations.
McLaren already proved in both 2024 and 2025 that a customer team can still win championships in modern Formula 1. However, Brown openly acknowledged that owning a works engine operation could still provide an important advantage in a title fight against rival manufacturers.
At the same time, he admitted that becoming a manufacturer can also become a dangerous gamble, as demonstrated by Aston Martin’s ambitious partnership with Honda.
McLaren considering future power unit scenarios
During the same interview with Sports Business Journal, Zak Brown allowed himself to imagine a fascinating future scenario for the Woking-based team: “We couldn’t be happier with Mercedes, but if an opportunity ever came up to have our own engine through a financially sustainable scenario, then yes, I think we would consider it,” Brown admitted.
No matter how successful a team becomes in Formula 1, recent history has repeatedly shown that true long-term independence often requires building your own power unit. Red Bull’s decision to create Red Bull Powertrains is perhaps the clearest modern example of that philosophy.
McLaren already develops engines internally for some of its road cars, typically twin-turbo V8 units used across several of its high-performance models. Entering Formula 1 as a full power unit manufacturer would therefore represent a natural extension of the company’s technical ambitions.
Beyond the potential sporting benefits, a McLaren Formula 1 engine program could also significantly strengthen the brand from a commercial and automotive perspective, further expanding its technological identity both on and off the racetrack.
Leave a Reply