McLaren CEO Zak Brown, in an open letter to the fans, looked back at the electric 2025 F1 season and the wins in both championships. In an internal title fight, drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri pushed each other to the absolute limit, not to mention the threat from rival Max Verstappen, who put pressure on them both. Brown is particularly proud of the way McLaren gave its drivers the room to race freely and fairly.
“We are racers and were determined to give Lando and Oscar a fair and equal shot at the title,” Zak Brown wrote this week on McLaren’s website. “And that’s what we achieved; the championship stayed alive until the end and was only decided in the final laps of the last race of the year. It kept us on the edge of our seats and produced some very tense moments in the pit lane. But we wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
The battle between Norris and Piastri became the sporting high point of the season. According to Brown, it was a duel that perfectly illustrated what McLaren stands for. “Oscar and Lando pushed each other to the limit. They were fierce and competitive, but always raced with the right mindset. It was intense, dramatic and at times nerve‑wracking. But the fact that these two incredible talents both had the chance to fight for the championship in the final race says everything about how we race at McLaren.”
Papaya rules
Throughout the season experts repeatedly questioned that approach. With Red Bull’s resurgence and Max Verstappen breathing down the field, McLaren was constantly urged to name a clear number‑one. According to Zak Brown, however, that fair philosophy runs deep in the team. “This culture, and the freedom to race your teammate with respect and integrity, is embedded in McLaren’s DNA,” he explained. “A huge amount of work was done behind the scenes to make sure both drivers had a fair chance in the final race.”
In the end Norris prevailed and was crowned world champion. Brown didn’t hide his pride. “I want to congratulate Lando on the fact that, as the 35th driver, he has realised his lifelong ambition of becoming Formula 1 world champion.” Piastri also received an extensive tribute from the McLaren CEO. “Oscar also deserves enormous praise. He has had an incredible season. You’d almost forget this was only his third year in Formula 1; he drives with so much experience and skill, and always conducts himself professionally and respectfully. From the first moment we knew he would become a star and it was a real pleasure to see him grow into a title contender in such a short time.”
Competition from Max Verstappen
Finally Zak Brown reflected on the intense competition, particularly from Max Verstappen. “Our rivals also deserve recognition. Red Bull and Max Verstappen tested us right up to the last race. In the final year before a major regulations change the competition was fiercer than ever, but we enjoyed the fight.”
“There were challenging moments and we certainly made mistakes that played into our rivals’ hands,” he added. “Fortunately those were dealt with quickly and they taught us valuable lessons that made us a better team.” According to Brown, that attitude characterises how McLaren handles setbacks. “We are racers and have been in this sport long enough to understand that things go wrong. It’s part of it. What matters is how we respond in those situations to move forward.”
