Could McLaren’s win in Miami be the start of something big? Zak Brown believes Red Bull’s early-season ‘turmoil’ will impact their performance by 2026.
- After years of trying, McLaren got a win in Miami, thanks to an upgrade.
- Brown is surprised by how quickly rivals closed the gap with Red Bull.
- McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes have all given Red Bull a tough fight this season.
- Brown thinks Red Bull’s true setback will be evident in 2026, especially with changes in cars and engines.
After two years of challenges, McLaren finally broke through with a massive win at the Miami Grand Prix, thanks to a crucial upgrade. Lando Norris secured his maiden F1 victory, giving the team a much-needed boost. Since then, though, McLaren hasn’t repeated that victory but has managed five runner-up results in the last six races, even outscoring Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship.
It’s not just McLaren giving Red Bull a run for their money. Ferrari and Mercedes have each snatched two Grand Prix wins. Zak Brown didn’t expect such a close fight, especially after the season opener in Bahrain where Max Verstappen led a Red Bull 1-2 finish, winning by a significant margin of 22 seconds.
Brown attributes these shifting dynamics to Red Bull’s rapid start with the ground-effect aerodynamic cars back in 2022. He believes Red Bull reached their peak performance faster, leaving them with fewer areas for improvement compared to other teams. “Credit to them, got there first, and now we’re all just caught up, or almost caught up,” he said.
Asked if Red Bull’s early-season turmoil played a role in their current situation, Brown thinks the impact will become clear by 2026. Changes in engines and car designs will be a big factor then. He highlights the loss of Adrian Newey, a design legend whose decision to take a break has raised questions about Red Bull’s future stability. Brown thinks this turmoil could cause cracks within the team as winning becomes tougher.
Formula 1 will introduce new cars and engines in 2026, marking the first time in two decades that Red Bull’s car won’t be led by Newey. In May, Newey announced he was tired and needed a break, hinting that early-season drama influenced his decision. “I am in the very lucky position where I don’t need to work to live,” he said.
Zak Brown predicts that Red Bull’s early-season challenges will have lasting effects come 2026.
Source: Planetf1
