The summer shutdown has arrived. But at McLaren, nobody’s easing off. After a first half of the season that’s been nothing short of historic, CEO Zak Brown has sent out a letter that feels like a team talk before a title decider.
Hungary wasn’t just another race weekend. It was McLaren’s 200th Formula 1 victory, making them only the second team in history to reach that landmark. They head into the break leading the Constructors’ Championship by nearly 300 points. Piastri and Norris are one and two in the Drivers’ standings.
Brown’s first words go to the people who got them here, the crew at the factory and track, the papaya army in the grandstands, and the partners backing the push. But he’s crystal clear. The job is not done.
“Even our weakest rival is really damn good. Milliseconds make the difference. The moment you relax, the edge disappears.”
Wins that mean more
Monaco tops the list. A crown jewel that sits at the heart of McLaren’s Triple Crown legacy. Then Bahrain, where the team delivered a first-ever home win for their Bahraini shareholders.
The numbers are brutal. Six wins for Piastri. Five for Norris. Seven 1–2 finishes. That’s a level McLaren hasn’t hit since Senna and Prost ruled 1988.
And the title fight? Brown’s not picking a favourite. Montreal showed the team can handle it when things get close. “May the best man win,” he says, knowing both have the pace to go all the way.
From Hollywood to Trafalgar Square
McLaren’s been busy off-track too. F1: The Movie with Brad Pitt landed ahead of Silverstone. Brown thinks it could bring a fresh wave of fans into the sport. Pitt even climbed into a two-year-old McLaren F1 car at COTA, with Norris coaching him through it.
Then came McLaren Racing Live with 40,000 fans turning Trafalgar Square into a sea of papaya. “Brave and ambitious,” Brown calls it. A reminder that McLaren wants to win in the paddock and in the hearts of fans.
Goodbye Formula E, hello Le Mans
London’s E-Prix was McLaren’s final race in Formula E. After three seasons, the team is heading back to top-level sportscar racing. At Le Mans this year, they pulled the cover off their Hypercar for the 2027 World Endurance Championship.
“Sportscar racing is in a golden period,” Brown says. “It’s in our DNA.”
INDYCAR pushing forward
In America, Arrow McLaren is moving into a triple-sized Indianapolis base. Pato O’Ward is in the hunt for the title still although Alex Palou remains favourite. Christian Lundgaard has impressed in his first season with the team. Nolan Siegel is building momentum. Brown believes an Indy 500 win and a championship are within reach.
The sign-off
Brown’s closing words in his letter are for the fans who have supported the team through thick and thin.
“We race for you. Here’s to a thrilling end to the season. Make sure you’re with us for the journey.”