Brown: Let’s see what happens in China

Brown rightfully pointed out that the Albert Park track in Melbourne is an outlier, but when a car enjoys over four tenths of pace advantage over rivals like the MCL39 did, that means it will be the car to beat this season.

The rainy mixed conditions was the only reason Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri did not deliver a one two despite locking out the front row in qualifying.

Max Verstappen took advantage and challenged the Papaya cars all race long and while Norris survived a spin late in the race, Piastri didn’t and finished ninth.

Nevertheless, it was a great performance by Norris and the team, the former holding firm against Verstappen’s attack the latter delivering a good strategy.

Speaking after the race, Brown said: "Unbelievable drive. The team called a perfect strategy in very difficult conditions.

"I feel terrible for Oscar,” he added. “They both came up on the rain at the same time and Lando collected it up.

"Oscar drove great to get back to P9. It was an exciting race.

"The team did a great job, everyone back at McLaren have built a proper race car,” the American hailed.

McLaren’s MCL39 was the superior car in terms of pace and tyre degradation.

But Brown insisted: "It [the pace] looked good, but this is one track, one race. Let's see what happens in China.

"But we have started the season strong. We saw last year Max won the first seven races, then had a drought so we just have to keep doing what we are doing.

"We know how quickly things change in this sport, we just need to make sure we keep developing but that's what everyone at McLaren has done in the last few years,” Brown concluded.

Norris now leads Verstappen by eight points in the 2025 Formula 1 championship. (Quotes from Sky Sports F1)