Zak Brown: Mercedes 2026 favorites, but Red Bull engine a 'pleasant surprise'

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has identified Mercedes as the early favorites for the 2026 Formula 1 title based on pre-season testing, while acknowledging a strong and surprising debut for Red Bull's new power unit. He predicts the field will spread out under the new regulations, creating a different racing dynamic.

Why it matters:

As teams adapt to the sweeping 2026 technical regulations, early assessments from key figures like Brown set the initial narrative for the competitive order. His view that Mercedes holds a slight edge, but that Red Bull's new in-house engine is already competitive, suggests a potential shift in the pecking order and a more unpredictable season ahead.

The details:

• Brown's assessment comes after the Barcelona shakedown, where Mercedes' new W17 led the field in total laps (502) and Lewis Hamilton set the fastest overall time.
• He places McLaren within the leading group, despite Oscar Piastri losing some running due to a fuel system fault during a disrupted test.
• Red Bull's Strong Start: Brown specifically highlighted the performance and reliability of the all-new Red Bull Powertrains-Ford engine, calling it a "pleasant surprise." The Red Bull and Racing Bulls teams combined for over 600 laps.
• A Spread-Out Grid: Brown anticipates a significant performance gap across the field under the new rules, estimating a spread of two to three seconds compared to the one-second gap seen at the end of 2025. This is considered normal for a new formula.
• Racing Challenges: He notes teams will have to "learn how to race these cars a little bit differently" due to energy deployment limits, and has called for further FIA rule refinement to prevent cars from running out of energy at the end of straights.

What's next:

The true competitive picture will only become clear at the season-opening race in Melbourne. Brown's comments underscore that while Mercedes may have a theoretical advantage, Red Bull's engine program has defied early skepticism. The wider performance gap he predicts could lead to more distinct performance tiers and strategic challenges, particularly around energy management, throughout the 2026 season.