At Yas Marina, McLaren wrapped up a perfect season with a double victory. After clinching the Constructors’ Championship with six races to spare, the Drivers’ Championship followed, earned after a long and challenging campaign. The margin of just two points by which Max Verstappen nearly pulled off the upset, alongside the many questions raised about McLaren in the second half of the season—both technical, with a car no longer dominant, and managerial, with the ‘papaya rules’ frequently in focus—underscores the challenges faced. McLaren CEO Zak Brown addressed these topics in detail.
Zak Brown: “Beating Ferrari and Verstappen two years in a row is extraordinary. Oscar Piastri’s moment will come”
For the second consecutive year, McLaren arrived in Abu Dhabi with a title at stake, and for the second consecutive year, it was the Woking team to triumph. Zak Brown began his season-end reflections by emphasizing the consistent high-level performance of his squad. “Last year we concluded the championship battling the most iconic team in F1, Ferrari, while Max is an incredible driver,” he said. “To beat them, you need to give your absolute best, and Lando and Oscar require a dream team to fight. Every man and woman in the team did an outstanding job, and it was a spectacle right up to the last race.” These words echo those of Team Principal Andrea Stella, who highlighted that cohesion ultimately prevailed.
In these terms, it’s impossible not to mention the ‘papaya rules,’ which the team adhered to up until the final Grand Prix to ensure equal opportunities for both drivers and to avoid creating fractures that could threaten the team environment. “I can assure you, even from the inside, we were a little worried,” Zak Brown admitted. “But we have two great drivers, capable of being world champions. We want to race hard, but always fairly. We know this approach carries potential risks, but I prefer taking them. I’m happy for Lando, and I can’t wait to celebrate with Oscar as well.” Commenting specifically on the season of the driver who didn’t win in his garage, he added at the interview ring: “Oscar is a future world champion. Both of our drivers won seven races, but this is a cruel sport. I can’t wait to race with them again—we’re a fantastic group. I couldn’t ask for a better driver lineup.”
Reflections on Abu Dhabi
Recalling the final race in Abu Dhabi, the McLaren CEO commented on its tense nature, with Norris on a knife-edge for 58 laps. “It was a race that kept us on the edge of our seats, with Charles in DRS range and a close encounter with Yuki. Beating Max and an incredible team like Red Bull is a major achievement. There were so many things that could have gone wrong, but everything went well.”
Returning to Lando Norris’ triumph, he added: “People always ask which title is more important, but I can assure you that the stress and desire to win the Drivers’ Championship were just as intense as for the Constructors’. It’s incredibly rewarding for both the team and the drivers.”
Strategy under pressure
The final race was also made more tense by strategic choices, needing to select the best approach without penalizing either driver while considering the responses of Red Bull, Max Verstappen, and the surprise factor, Charles Leclerc. “At the pit wall, we debated whether to cover only Charles Leclerc and adopt a defensive, reactive strategy,” explained McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella. “With Oscar, we waited as long as possible, hoping for a Safety Car and seeing if the Medium tyres could help reach Verstappen by the end, but once again, he was too fast and deserved the victory.”
McLaren’s handling of a high-pressure situation while maintaining driver equality has silenced many critics, reinforcing Brown’s belief in the current lineup as the strongest on the grid. As the team turns attention to defending both titles amid the 2026 regulation reset, the American CEO’s confidence in Norris and Piastri signals ambitious plans for continued success in the seasons ahead.
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