McLaren CEO Zak Brown is not discounting the chance that a midfield Formula 1 team could repeat the turnaround it has made and become a title contender in 2025.
The Woking-based squad has emerged as a genuine championship candidate with 10 consecutive podiums and two wins seeing it close to 42 points behind Red Bull.
Mercedes has entered the mix with three victories in the past four races with its updated W15, while Ferrari remains in the leading battle despite its recent regression.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner insisted since last winter that convergence was inevitable and he’s predicted a “flat-out race” between the leading quartet next season.
But although fifth-placed Aston Martin is 193 points behind Mercedes with 10 rounds to go, Brown thinks it would be unwise to rule out teams beneath that threshold.
“Next year could be an epic season,” Brown told RacingNews365.
“It is just an evolution of four teams fighting for the championship, and I think it would be naive to rule out somebody who is not in the top four right now.
“Because we can see how quickly things have changed, with Aston Martin falling back, but they could dial it right back up.
“RB were very quick at the start of the year, so there is no reason why teams can’t do what we did.”
Brown has highlighted how the budget cap has provided equal opportunities to all the teams on the grid to replicate the remarkable reversal McLaren made last term.
“We did it through hard work and great people, but everyone has the same sized budget, everyone has similar technology,” he explained.
“There is no reason why others can’t do what we’ve done over the last year.”
McLaren will endeavour to again be in the title picture next season while also having to manage the impending wholesale regulation overhaul that is coming in 2025.
However, Brown is optimistic that McLaren is situated in a good place heading into the sport’s next era with its extended engine customer agreement with Mercedes.
“I am excited and nervous at the same time, because you just don’t know,” the American added.
“I’m very confident on the Mercedes power unit side, so if I think about what keeps me up at night for 2026, it is just the unknown.
“The power unit is the least of our worries, and I feel very confident where Mercedes is in its development, and of course, you don’t know where anyone else is.
“But they feel very good, so, therefore, we feel good.”
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