'Arrogant' to view McLaren as favorites - Brown

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown says it would be arrogant for his team to view itself as favorite for either championship in 2025, given how competitive this years was.

Max Verstappen won a fourth consecutive drivers’ championship but McLaren won the constructors’ title as it held off Ferrari by 14 points in Abu Dhabi. Red Bull slipped to third in the team standings ahead of Mercedes in fourth, with the top four teams all scoring multiple race victories, and Brown says that level of opposition means nobody can single themselves out as the favorite heading into next season.

“I think favorites would be arrogant,” Brown said. “I see no reason why we can’t be one of the favorites. You’ve got four teams that are winning races on a regular basis, so I don’t see how you can put anybody as a favorite going into next year.

“But we’re definitely [one of them], unlike this year… To (McLaren technical director of aerodynamics) Pete Prodromou’s credit, he came into this year thinking we could win the world championship. I wasn’t there. I’m there now, that next year, we’re going to try and win the constructors’ and drivers’ world championship.

“That’s the mindset of everyone else, but I know there’s at least three other teams, and maybe a surprise, but at least three other teams that will have that same mindset, and I think have as good a chance as anyone.”

However, Brown believes both drivers have shown they have the potential to challenge for a championship in 2025, after both became race-winners for the first time – Lando Norris winning four races and Oscar Piastri two.

“Every race weekend, you watch Formula 1’s best driver pairing, Lando and Oscar, get behind the wheel of the MCL38 and put in a shift for this team. More often than not this year, that’s been at the front of the field, with six grand prix wins, 21 podiums, and eight pole positions, including a run of 14 consecutive podiums, the second-longest streak in our history.

“Our drivers have done us proud. Lando pushed Max hard in the drivers’ championship and is the first driver to finish second for us since Jenson (Button) in 2011. And in only his second season, Oscar has become the first McLaren driver to finish as high as fourth for us since Lewis (Hamilton) in 2012. On and off track, both made huge strides this year, showing they’ve got what it takes to challenge for the championship.”