The World Championship seems to be decided, but McLaren remains cautious: Zak Brown warns against writing off Verstappen too soon
A 63-point lead over Max Verstappen is no reason for McLaren to stop taking the Red Bull driver seriously in the 2025 Formula 1 title race. McLaren boss Zak Brown made that clear ahead of the US Grand Prix in Austin.
Brown said: “Even though we would like to see it decided between our two drivers alone, Max is still very much in the game.”
Verstappen is one of five drivers who still have a mathematical chance of winning the title, alongside McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, Mercedes driver George Russell and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Realistically, however, the world championship battle is likely to be limited to Piastri and Norris, with Verstappen as the outsider.
McLaren remains true to its current course
That’s why McLaren is staying true to its current course, says Brown: “We’ll just carry on as before. Our strategy isn’t changing just because we’ve won the constructors’ championship. We’re approaching the remaining race weekends just like any other before.“
Because that’s what the 2025 season has proven: McLaren won the constructors’ championship so early ”because the team remained focused and humble,” says Brown. That should continue in the remaining race weekends until the end of the season.
“Because that’s why we’re here,” says Brown. “We want to win races and championships. And we couldn’t be hungrier for it.”
First successful title defense since 1990/91
With its tenth title win in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship, McLaren now ranks second in the “all-time rankings” behind Ferrari—and ahead of Williams, with whom the team had previously shared second place. 2025 marks McLaren’s first successful title defense since 1990/91.