Zak Brown admits McLaren face a ‘big challenge’ that could cost Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri the F1 drivers’ title

Lando Norris leads the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix with a 10-point margin over his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

The Woking crew have been the clear team to beat at the start of the 2025 F1 season and go to Suzuka as the favourites to enjoy further success. McLaren have not won a Japanese GP since Jenson Button took glory in 2011 but the MCL39 has been the best package this year.

Norris took the lead of the F1 drivers’ championship for the first time in his career when the 24-year-old won the Australian Grand Prix from pole position. Piastri also registered his first pole position in Formula 1 at the Chinese Grand Prix and converted it for a comfortable win.

Zak Brown admits McLaren face a ‘big challenge’ balancing the 2025 titles with F1’s 2026 regulations

But while McLaren have started strongly, CEO Zak Brown thinks the Woking outfit have a ‘big challenge’ balancing developing the MCL39 to support their title aspirations with developing a car for F1’s 2026 regulations. F1 will have its biggest regulation overhaul in over a decade.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and chassis regulations

Formula 1 will drop the current 1.6L V6 turbo-hybrid power units for new engines with a 50-50 split between electrical and combustion energy, along with introducing new chassis rules featuring active aerodynamics that have been designed to account for the new power units.

The new rules can completely shake up the pecking order with teams able to start working on their 2026 cars since January. Brown states that McLaren are already ‘deep’ into creating their 2026 car but do not want it to restrict their drivers’ and constructors’ title bids in 2025.

“We know 2026 will bring a major shake-up with new rules, both in power unit philosophy and in the chassis regulations,” Brown told the McLaren website. “These changes present both challenges and opportunities, and we’re already deep into our preparations.

“Our focus is maintaining our competitive edge and being ready to seize every opportunity that comes our way. There’s no doubt that it will be a big challenge to maintain progress throughout this year, while also balancing resources on car design and build for 2026.”

Ferrari and Red Bull have upgrades coming to catch McLaren in F1 2025

Brown having ‘no doubt’ that McLaren face a challenge to keep developing their 2025 car in parallel with F1’s 2026 regulations will not come as music to the ears of Norris and Piastri. It may come to cost either McLaren driver the title if the team focus too much on next season.

Yuki Tsunoda has replaced Liam Lawson at Red Bull as team principal Christian Horner feels the Japanese pilot’s experience can help them to improve the RB21. Verstappen berated his car’s inconsistent balance in China and Red Bull have upgrades coming after a crisis summit.

New parts will also soon enhance Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s cars as Ferrari intend to unveil a new floor in Bahrain before bringing further upgrades to the Miami Grand Prix. It could mark the start of McLaren having a greater fight for victories, with points off the table.