McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown is “immensely proud” of the team’s “historic” 2025 F1 season.
Lando Norris claimed his maiden F1 title at last season’s finale in Abu Dhabi, whilst the team wrapped up the constructors’ title in Singapore, which marked McLaren’s ninth driver and constructor’s title double, whilst Oscar Piastri finished third.
In an open letter on www.mclaren.com, Brown spoke of his pride at the team’s successful season which produced 17 race victories (14 Grands Prix + 3 Sprints) plus 16 combined pole positions; which consisted of 13 Grands Prix and three Sprints.
“I am immensely proud to lead this iconic team, and what we have achieved together in 2025 is nothing short of historic.
“Together, for only the ninth time in our illustrious history, and for the first time since 1998, we clinched both the Formula 1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships. It had been a long 17 years since our last Drivers’ title, so this truly marks a key milestone in our ongoing quest.
“So, first and foremost, I want to take a moment to congratulate the whole McLaren Racing team and the many people who give their all to deliver these achievements for doing an awesome job. Moments like this are why we go racing, they will stay with us forever.
“Across a 24-round season and in a sport as competitive as ours, momentum naturally swings back and forth. Yet the numbers for Lando and Oscar tell the story of an incredible season: seven victories each, and a combined 13 Pole positions – seven for Lando, six for Oscar.
“Between them, they led more than half of the laps raced in the season (825 laps) and enjoyed an incredible 34 podiums.
“They amassed a remarkable 833 points, with only 13 between them at the end of the season. It’s been an absolute privilege to witness their evolution as drivers – their teamwork, their ability to adapt and learn, and their outright speed.”
Brown proceeded to address the Papaya Rules controversy amongst fans as he explained that “equal opportunity” was at the heart of letting Norris and Piastri fairly duel it out for the title, even if was at the expense of the pit wall’s nerves.
“We are racers, and we were determined to give Lando and Oscar a fair and equal opportunity to go for the title. And we accomplished that – the Championship ended up going down to the wire and was decided in the final laps of the final race of the year.
“It definitely kept us on the edge of our seats and made for some very tense times on the pit wall, but we wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
Brown added that Piastri and Norris’ title fight enabled both drivers to push each other to new heights in their development, whilst having the experience of a F1 title decider at the season finale for the first time.
“Oscar and Lando pushed each other to new heights – they were fiercely competitive but always raced in the right spirit. It was intense, dramatic, and at times nerve-wracking. But for these two incredible talents to both have an opportunity to secure the Championship in the final race says everything about how we go racing at McLaren.
“This culture, and the freedom to race your teammate with respect and integrity, runs deep in McLaren Racing’s DNA.
“Behind the scenes, an enormous amount of work went into ensuring both drivers had a fair shot going into the final race, and you can see from the way they behaved after crossing the line in Abu Dhabi how much mutual respect they have for one another.”
Norris is the eighth driver to win a F1 title with McLaren with Brown impressed at how he embraced McLaren since his arrival in 2017 as an initial development drivers, before his graduation to a race seat in 2019 and confidence to stick with the team throughout his evolution.
“Lando first joined us as a Development Driver in 2017 – at only 17 years old, he was raw, but bursting with natural talent and we 100% believed in his potential. He has grown with McLaren, making his full-time debut two years later, and, as of the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, has started more F1 Grands Prix for McLaren than any other driver in history.
“It’s been fantastic to witness his evolution as a driver, and when he crossed the line in third place in Abu Dhabi, it was an emotional moment for us all, one that none of us will ever forget.”
Piastri meanwhile joined the team in 2023 with Brown proud of the Australian’s progress in just three seasons, which saw him lead 15 rounds last season until a late-season dip saw him slip to third come the climax.
“Oscar also deserves immense credit. He drove an unbelievable season. It’s easy to forget that he has contested only three Formula 1 seasons to date – he drives with an experience and skill that belies his years and conducts himself with the utmost professionalism and respect.
“We knew we had a star on our hands from the moment he arrived, and it has been a pleasure to watch him blossom into a title challenger in such short order.
“I have no doubt his star will continue to rise in the years to come, and I want to thank him for playing such a crucial role in delivering our second consecutive Constructors’ Championship under the Singapore floodlights, with six rounds to go.”
McLaren however didn’t have everything his own way after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen mounted a late-season comeback to miss out on the title by just two points, with Brown keen to acknowledge Red Bull and Verstappen’s ability to push them all the way.
“Our rivals deserve recognition, too. Red Bull and Max Verstappen pushed us all the way to the final round. In the final year before a major rule reset, the competition was fiercer than ever, but we relished the fight.
“There were challenging moments along the way, and we definitely made some mistakes that played into the hands of our competitors – which are important to acknowledge – but these were dealt with swiftly and provided valuable lessons that made us better as a team.
“We are racers and have been in this sport long enough to understand that s*** happens, and it’s part of the game – what’s important is how we react in these situations to help drive us forward. When we make mistakes, we take responsibility. We address difficult situations directly, openly and constructively, ensuring we move forward stronger and more aligned.”
Brown however iterated that those experiences will benefit McLaren moving forward as they prepare for a new season with a revamp in technical regulations.
“The lessons we learned last year – and there were many – are a part of our constant evolution as a team and will undoubtedly make us better prepared. We’re a relatively young team, but we learn quickly, and we bounce back with vigour and purpose.
“Championships are won by how teams respond under pressure, and I am proud of how we handled those more challenging moments.”
Looking ahead to the radical change in rules, Brown believes that the honour of being defending champions don’t count for anything under such circumstances but feels that the last two seasons are still foundations to build upon.
“The reigning Champions label counts for little when we are all faced with a regulatory reset. The new regulatory era in Formula 1 will bring new challenges as the competitive landscape evolves, but our aim is to build on the foundations that brought us success in 2024 and 2025 and maintain the high standards required to compete at the front.
“No one can possibly predict at this stage how the field will shape up in the opening races, but Andrea and his leadership team have been quietly working hard in the background for a long time now to give us the strongest possible chance to get off to a strong start.”
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