McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes that Ferrari will be contenders in 2025. The 53-year-old views Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as having the experience and raw speed to fight for a Championship.
If Ferrari maintain last year’s trajectory, this all-star duo will have the necessary machinery to contend.
Brown is also aware that Red Bull and Mercedes could become threats – but argues they driver line-ups are less equipped to fight for a Championship.
McLaren have a target on their back
For the first time in well over a decade, McLaren enter an F1 campaign as favourites to win the title.
This is not to suggest that Red Bull, Ferrari or even Mercedes can be discounted. However, the Woking squad have far fewer question marks than their rivals – in terms of their 2025 development.
Even the FIA’s new flexi-wing Technical Directive, which will take effect at the Spanish GP, is something McLaren are well on top of.
Andrea Stella’s personnel already have a solution to mitigate the FIA’s plans for stricter tests on front-wing elasticity.
Still, this does not mean McLaren can allow themselves to be complacent.
When asked if Lewis Hamilton could fight for a Championship, McLaren’s Zak Brown answered unequivocally:
“I’m definitely anticipating Lewis being a championship contender,” Brown said at F1 75.
“We and Ferrari ended last year with nothing between us, and I think that will continue.
“Mercedes were very close [in 2024] and still won four races, so I put them in there.
“And, of course, Red Bull, [who had] a super strong first half of the year, a little bit less strong middle of the year, then ended very strong.”
No question marks at McLaren
Arguably one of the biggest strengths that McLaren will enjoy in 2025 – especially in the opening rounds – is continuity.
Aston Martin are the only other team with an unchanged driver line-up this season.
Whilst the likes of Lewis Hamilton get up to speed, Norris and Piastri are aiming to hit the ground running.
There is also little change at McLaren from a technical perspective. Unlike rival teams, who have shuffled around their engineering and decision-making talent, Andrea Stella’s team is largely unchanged.
This theme of continuity could be an important one, as Zak Brown eluded to in his subsequent comments:
“Kimi being a rookie and Liam being – let’s call it inexperienced…
“I think from a constructors’ point of view, that will probably present a bit more of a challenge over 24 races.
“They’ll inevitably have some rookie weekends, if you like,” Brown added.
“But I think they’re both extremely quick drivers and I anticipate both of them winning races.
“I think this season should be epic and even closer than last year. I’m anticipating eight different winners. I wouldn’t be surprised with how competitive it is.
“Every weekend last year, while the top four teams were always at the front, there seemed to be someone that was able to kind of disrupt.
“I expect that to be happening again. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more than four teams that won.”
