McLaren’s era of dominance already over?

By Noah Guttman

McLaren has had a history of success under Zak Brown. But that era is over.

Ever since Zak Brown joined McLaren in November 2016, the team had consistently found themselves on the upswing.

The early strides would be made with the likes of Fernando Alonso, it would be Lando Norris who would truly catapult McLaren towards the top of the Constructors’ table. Since joining the team, McLaren worked their way back into the top-five spots in the Constructors’ table after a five-year absence. And in the seven seasons since Lando Norris joined McLaren, the Papayas would only score fewer than 200 points twice.

While it was Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo who assisted in pushing McLaren forward, it was the pairing of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris that truly put McLaren over the top. Despite a slow start in 2023, the two drivers were able to get McLaren on track and put the Papayas over 300 points for the first time since 2012, when Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton drove for McLaren.

After overcoming yet another slow start in 2024, McLaren’s duo quickly gained confidence and overtook Red Bull for control of the Constructors’ hierarchy; they would eventually win their first Constructors’ title since 2008 after an end-of-season battle with Ferrari.

But in 2025, the rivalry between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri would become increasingly apparent during the 2025 season, sparking drama within the McLaren paddock. That said, McLaren was nonetheless able to dominate the Constructors’ Championship in 2025; not only did the Papayas secure the title with six race weekends left in the season, but they ended up scoring 833 points on the season, just twenty-seven off of Red Bull’s record-breaking 833 points scored in 2023.

The most disappointing part of that last sentence? At several points, McLaren looked to not only be on track to surpass Red Bull’s 2023 point total, but they also had the pace to score 1000 points in 2025. Had Papaya Rules not been enforced at the most headscratching moments of the season’s second half, McLaren would have at least gotten close to 1000 points.

What’s more disappointing is that there is a very decent chance that the 2025 season serves as a late peak of the Zak Brown Era in Formula One.

For one, 833 points isn’t going to be easy to replicate. This is especially true when considering that we are entering a brand new regulations era, all but putting the teams on square one heading into the 2026 campaign. Though teams like Mercedes and McLaren will have the edge in terms of the power unit, Mercedes has been rumoured to have the edge in terms of development. It’s also said that Red Bull have found an edge over the Papayas given Max Verstappen’s ability to effectively deploy his car’s energy (much of the new regulations will serve to balance the split between electrical power and regular engine combustion).

In terms of the Drivers Championship, both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will have their work cut out for them. Not only will Max Verstappen be looking to take back his crown, but George Russell could have an opportunity to win his first title. Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has also emerged as a popular pick to win in recent weeks.

Speaking of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, I expect the tensions between the two teammates to only grow. Oscar Piastri might not be the biggest fan of how things were handled late last season, and he’ll be looking to make up for his end-of-season slump by challenging for the title throughout the season; that might not make for some pleasant radio calls during races.

But beyond 2026? That’s where things could get interesting.

While Oscar Piastri’s current contract runs until 2028, the current speculation is that he won’t be at McLaren beyond that point; former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner suggested that same possibility late last season.

If Piastri were to leave without a Drivers’ Championship, it would arguably serve as a huge stain on what has been an extremely successful era regardless of the scenario that plays out. To have two world championship-calibre drivers and several title-winning cars in your arsenal and yet to only have one of the two drivers clinching a title is slightly embarrassing.

Undoubtedly, McLaren is going to have to take steps to ensure that Piastri and Lando Norris both have an equal chance at the title. And the Papayas should once again have one of the fastest cars on the grid.

But if 2026 takes place with the same issues plaguing McLaren’s paddock and if the team loses their grip on one or both titles as a result? It might then be time to call it a wrap on a seven-season era of success for McLaren.