Zak Brown says writing off Red Bull would be “very foolish” as 2026 grid converges
Summary
McLaren’s Zak Brown warns that dismissing Red Bull after a poor early‑season showing would be reckless, noting that the new 2026 regulations will compress the field and allow teams to catch up quickly.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown says it would be “very foolish” to write off Red Bull after a slow start to the 2026 season. McLaren sits third, 30 points ahead of Red Bull, and Brown believes the new regulation era will compress the grid as teams learn and upgrade.
Why it matters:
- Red Bull’s slump could reshape the championship fight.
- Converging performance will make races tighter and boost fan interest.
- McLaren’s rapid rise shows how quickly the order can flip under the new rules.
The details:
- Red Bull is sixth with 16 points after three rounds; Verstappen has yet to podium.
- McLaren sits third, 30 points clear of Red Bull and 44 ahead of Audi in eighth.
- 2026 regulation changes widened Q1 gaps (1.235 s in 2025 vs 3.737 s in 2026), reshaping the performance baseline, while McLaren rebounded from early‑2022 struggles to win 2024‑25 titles.
- Red Bull has lost key staff – Newey to Aston Martin, Wheatley to Sauber/Audi, Lambiase departing – and is now building an in‑house power unit, a reset Brown says will test the team’s depth.
What's next:
- Miami GP this weekend will be the first chance for several teams to roll out aero and power‑unit upgrades.
- McLaren’s new‑car upgrade targets the gap to Mercedes and hopes to pressure Red Bull.
Original Article :https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/zak-brown-foolish-to-discount-red-bull-despit...