At the start of 2026, Zak Brown chose to address the Papaya community directly to celebrate a season destined to go down in McLaren’s history. The 2025 campaign marked a return to the very top that had been missing for almost two decades, with the team securing both the drivers’ world championship and the constructors’ title. An achievement that, as Brown underlined, “will remain forever part of the legacy of this historic team”.
An unforgettable season: Norris champion, Piastri a key protagonist
The 2025 season saw Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri push each other to new levels of competitiveness. Seven victories each, a combined total of thirteen pole positions, 34 podium finishes and 833 points overall: figures that tell the story of a campaign dominated by the McLaren pairing and their consistent performance at the highest level.
Brown was keen to highlight how the internal title fight was managed with balance and mutual respect, explaining: “We wanted to give Lando and Oscar the same opportunity to win the championship… and we achieved that”. The championship was decided in the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Norris became the eighth driver in McLaren’s history to be crowned world champion.
Alongside the drivers, Brown paid tribute to the work of Team Principal Andrea Stella and all departments within the organisation, stressing that behind every result “there are hundreds of people working tirelessly” across the race track, the factory, the simulator and the technical departments. According to the McLaren CEO, this collective effort was the true foundation of the team’s success.
The Papaya spirit beyond Formula 1
2025 was also a year of growth for McLaren’s other racing programmes. In IndyCar, Pato O’Ward finished second in the championship, while Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel contributed to a season filled with podium finishes. At the same time, McLaren’s return to endurance racing took shape with the unveiling of its new hypercar for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, exactly thirty years after the team’s last victory in the iconic French race.
Brown also highlighted the team’s commitment to young talent development, from the F1 Academy programmes featuring Ella Lloyd and Ella Stevens, to the new prospects within the Driver Development Programme. Among them are names such as Leonardo Fornaroli and young karting talent Christian Costoya, both seen as part of McLaren’s long-term vision for the future.
Looking ahead to 2026, the CEO reminded everyone that the new technical regulations will reset many of the existing certainties in Formula 1: “Being reigning champions counts for very little when we are facing a major regulatory change”. Despite this, Brown made it clear that confidence in the work carried out by the team remains extremely high.
In his message, Brown reiterated how the support of the fans is an integral part of McLaren’s success. From global events to the grandstands at circuits around the world, the Papaya passion continues to be a source of energy, motivation and responsibility for everyone involved with the team.
2025 was a monumental year, but the focus is already firmly on what lies ahead. As Brown concluded in his letter, “I truly believe that the best is yet to come”. Words that sound both like a promise and a clear statement of intent as McLaren prepares for a new era in Formula 1.
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