McLaren's Zak Brown sees Mercedes, Ferrari as 'very strong' ahead of 2026 F1 season
Ahead of F1's major 2026 regulation overhaul, McLaren CEO Zak Brown assesses Mercedes and Ferrari as the early standouts, with Red Bull also a threat. While placing McLaren in the 'big four,' Brown admits they aren't the favorites initially but plans to leverage their strong development record to fight for wins as the season progresses.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has identified Mercedes and Ferrari as looking 'very strong' in pre-season testing for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, while also warning that Red Bull likely has more performance to reveal. Brown acknowledged his own team is part of the 'big four' but does not expect to start the season at the very front of the pack, pinning hopes on a fierce development race throughout the year.
Why it matters:
The 2026 season represents the most significant technical reset in a generation, introducing new power units with 50% electrification, fully sustainable fuels, and active aerodynamics. Such rule changes historically shuffle the competitive order, making pre-season assessments crucial for understanding which teams have best interpreted the new regulations. Brown's candid evaluation offers a rare early glimpse into the perceived pecking order from a top team principal.
The Details:
- In a team principals' press conference in Bahrain, Brown stated that Mercedes and Ferrari should be the happiest teams at this stage, directly labeling them as 'looking very strong.'
- He expressed caution about Red Bull, noting, 'I don’t think we’ve seen everything yet at Red Bull,' suggesting the reigning champions may be sandbagging or have upgrades in the pipeline.
- Regarding McLaren's position, Brown was pragmatic: 'I think we’ve produced a good car. I think we’ll be in the big four. I don’t think we’re at the front of the big four.'
- This assessment comes despite McLaren's dominant form at the end of the previous regulatory era, where they won consecutive constructors' titles in 2024 and 2025 and Lando Norris secured the 2025 drivers' championship.
- Mercedes, which mastered the last major engine rule change in 2014, has lived up to its billing as a pre-season favorite, while Ferrari's SF-26 has also impressed onlookers in the paddock.
What's next:
Brown's strategy hinges on McLaren's proven strength in in-season development. The team famously turned a slow-starting 2023 car into Red Bull's closest challenger and then overtook them with a major 2024 upgrade, dominating the latter stages of the previous era.
- With the 2026 rules expected to trigger an intense development war, McLaren believes its operational prowess can close any initial deficit to Mercedes and Ferrari.
- The true competitive picture will only emerge at the season-opening race, but Brown's comments set the stage for a potentially wide-open fight at the top between four powerhouse teams.