Zak Brown sends stern McLaren warning with 'weakest rivals' claim

McLaren Racing CEO has cautioned that if the Woking-based squad rests on its laurels, it could see its advantage evaporate in the "blink of an eye."

The reigning constructors' champions are cruising towards a second successive title, which would be the first time the papaya team has secured consecutive crowns since it won four on the bounce between 1988 and 1991.

14 rounds into the current F1 season, McLaren is on 559 points, which is 299 points clear of Ferrari in second place. 

It is also on track to break Red Bull's record haul of 860, and could even breach the 1000 points barrier for the campaign.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are dominating the drivers' championship fight; Max Verstappen, in third, is as good as out of the battle at 97 points adrift.

McLaren's supremacy has been built on a foundation of not only the MCL39 being the strongest chassis in 2025, and the team operating to a high level, but also superior brake and tyre cooling measures, which allow its car to perform at its peak across an entire qualifying lap and race harder for longer during grand prix.

However, Brown is acutely aware of how quickly the team's "competitive edge" can dissipate.

"If I take a step back and look at the team, I can see a lot of energy, a laser-sharp focus, and an incredible determination to succeed," the American wrote in an open letter to fans at the start of F1's summer break.

"But crucially, we must continue striving to be the very best we can be in the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1. We are always looking for ways to improve.

"The moment you rest on your laurels, any competitive edge you have can disappear in the blink of an eye."

The 53-year-old highlighted how strong and close the entire field in F1 is at the moment, with those at the foot of the constructors' standings only a fraction of a second slower per lap.

"And when we look at the competition, we must remember that even our weakest rival is really damn good," Brown added.

"We’re talking about milliseconds. So the secret to our success is to come together and never give up."