McLaren declared 'better prepared' for F1 2026 after 's***' happens' mistakes

McLaren CEO Zak Brown is adamant that lessons were learned last year that have made his team "better prepared" going into the new F1 season.

In an open-letter address to McLaren fans, reflecting on the 2025 title fight and looking ahead to the forthcoming campaign, but not solely restricted to F1, Brown has acknowledged that in motorsport "s*** happens".

As far as Brown is concerned, though, the overriding factor is how a team responds to those moments, as he felt McLaren did last term when faced with adversity at various stages.

It culminated in McLaren becoming drivers' and constructors' champions for only the ninth time in its history, with Lando Norris scooping the former title for the first time by just two points from Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Norris' McLaren team-mate and long-time title leader, Oscar Piastri, finished third, a further 11 points adrift.

Offering recognition to Red Bull and Verstappen for pushing McLaren "all the way to the final round", Brown said: "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.

"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."

Norris and Piastri 'pushed each other to new heights'

McLaren found itself in the spotlight for several calls it made during grands prix as it attempted to adhere to its 'papaya rules' of fairness to both Norris and Piastri.

Piastri, in particular, was aggrieved in the British, Italian and Singapore Grands Prix, believing McLaren had favoured Norris with its strategic plays.

Brown, though, has insisted that McLaren "accomplished" its objective of providing its two drivers with "a fair and equal opportunity to go for the title".

He added: "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.

"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 team-mate 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."