Brown: McLaren Champions label counts for little when faced with regulatory reset

Brown issued a letter to the McLaren fans following a great 2025 F1 season for the Woking squad, who clinched both Constructors' and Drivers' Titles, the latter won by Lando Norris, who beat Max Verstappen by two points at the chequered flag for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

But the American claims his team now need to start from scratch with the rules reset.

In his letter, Brown wrote: "We are only two weeks into the new year, but we have been in the detail of 2026 for a good while, and there is a lot to look forward to.

"The reigning Champions label counts for little when we are all faced with a regulatory reset," he insisted. "The new regulatory era in Formula 1 will bring new challenges as the competitive landscape evolves.

"But our aim is to build on the foundations that brought us success in 2024 and 2025 and maintain the high standards required to compete at the front," Brown vowed.

He went on declaring his faith in McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella and his team's ability to deliver another winning car, which will have a tough example to follow in the form of the dominant MCL39.

Brown said: "No one can possibly predict at this stage how the field will shape up in the opening races, but Andrea and his leadership team have been quietly working hard in the background for a long time now to give us the strongest possible chance to get off to a strong start."

McLaren will reveal their 2026 F1 challenger in an online event held at Bahrain International Circuit ahead of the first pre-season test to be held at the venue.