Zak Brown says McLaren improvement came earlier than expected

McLaren Formula 1 team boss Zak Brown has expressed his astonishment at the team’s competitive position in the Constructors’ Championship, where they trail Red Bull by only 42 points with ten races left in the season.

Brown shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, acknowledging the unexpected progress McLaren has made this season.

McLaren boss Zak Brown has been surprised by his own team’s performance in this season’s @F1 🏁 🏎

Can they challenge Red Bull for the title?#bbcformula1 pic.twitter.com/lwANtWHcZV

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 7, 2024

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“If I sit here and say I’m not surprised, that would be disingenuous,” Brown admitted. “Red Bull had such an advantage over everyone, and Mercedes was so dominant. I felt that we would continue to close the gap. Did I think we would be here during the summer break, one race away from taking the lead? No.”

While Brown is realistic about the immediate future, acknowledging that overtaking Red Bull in the next race would be a tall order, he remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory. “This race would need to be a first and second place with the fastest lap, and do I think that will happen? No. But if we keep the same trajectory we’ve had over the last six or seven races, by the end of the year we will be where we need to be,” he stated.

Reflecting on the team’s progress, Brown added, “I thought by 2025 we might get to where we are now. I didn’t think in 2024 we would be where we are now. But I’m not complaining.” His comments highlight McLaren’s rapid development and the potential for the team to challenge for the championship sooner than anticipated.