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Dear papaya fans,

As we approach the annual two-week summer shutdown, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on the first half of the season and look ahead to what promises to be a very exciting - and hopefully successful - end to the year.

We left Hungary having marked an incredible 200th Grand Prix win for McLaren, becoming only the second team in F1 history to achieve such a feat. Entering the summer break, we are currently sitting top of both the Constructors’ Championship, almost 300 points clear of second place, and with Oscar and Lando occupying the top two positions in the Drivers’ Championship.

I want to start by thanking everybody who has been involved in what has been a truly remarkable season so far, from the incredible men and women throughout McLaren Racing, to our vociferous papaya army fanbase, and our hugely supportive partners. You are the reasons why we are entering F1’s summer break in such a position of strength, and we’ll need you all during the second half of the season, when the pressure increases and competition becomes even more fierce.

If I take a step back and look at the team, I can see a lot of energy, a laser-sharp focus, and an incredible determination to succeed. But crucially, we must continue striving to be the very best we can be in the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1. We are always looking for ways to improve. The moment you rest on your laurels, any competitive edge you have can disappear in the blink of an eye. And when we look at the competition, we must remember that even our weakest rival is really damn good. We’re talking about milliseconds. So the secret to our success is to come together and never give up.

For me personally, I have two highlights so far this year. The first was winning the Monaco Grand Prix, for obvious reasons. It’s a Triple Crown event, along with the Indy 500 and the 24 hours of Le Mans and sits at the very core of McLaren’s DNA.  McLaren Racing is one of the only teams to have won the prestigious Triple Crown, and we want to achieve that again when we enter the World Endurance Championship in 2027.  

Secondly, winning the Bahrain Grand Prix was a very special moment for us as a team. The Crown Prince and Mumtalakat, our long-standing shareholders, have been tremendous supporters, and they had never won their home race before - so achieving victory in Sakhir was incredibly important for everyone at McLaren.

There have been many other highlights throughout the first six months of the year. With six wins for Oscar and five for Lando, including seven 1-2 finishes for the team, which is our highest number in a year since Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost produced one of F1’s most dominant seasons in 1988. It’s been a fantastic start. And while it’s too early to say it’s a two-horse race - because you can never count out the opposition - it’s certainly a great opportunity for one of our drivers to go on and win the World Championship.

Equal treatment in the title battle

When it comes to fighting for a world title between team-mates, everyone has a different perspective - and some people can be critical - so it’s important for me to clarify a few things. Firstly, I’ve said it before, but I truly believe we have the best driver line-up in Formula 1, and I wouldn’t trade it for any other.

Secondly, when you have two drivers going head-to-head for the World Championship, there’s naturally a lot of excitement - and we share that excitement. There’s nothing we like more than watching these guys battle it out. So may the best man win.

Of course, we recognise that incidents have happened and will happen again. It’s all about how well you’re prepared for those moments and how you deal with them. I think Montreal was a shining example of how well everyone handled the situation. We know the risk of not throwing our weight behind one driver, but we will give Oscar and Lando equal opportunity to fight it out on track to win the Drivers’ World Championship.

That’s exciting for us, and for the sport. We believe the benefits of racing this way far outweigh the consequences - despite the fact we know incidents can happen. I’m not naive. The adrenaline and pressure will rise, but the team will continue to work in harmony and manage the situations as they come. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic end to the year. I can’t wait to get back on track once the summer shutdown is over.

A sea of papaya

Ahead of this year’s British Grand Prix, there were two events that I want to highlight, which I’m particularly proud of. The first was the release of F1: The Movie, which is set to become the highest-grossing film of Brad Pitt’s career. When I saw the film for the first time, I was blown away by how it captured the speed, sound, and vibrancy of Formula 1. It did a brilliant job of bringing the sport to life on the big screen. In fact, I think some of the cinematic techniques used in the motion picture could even enhance how we broadcast F1 in future.

I thought it would be a nice idea to invite Brad to experience a real Formula 1 car. So at the end of June, we got him into one of our McLarens at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. Lando was on hand to offer some advice, and I have to say, Brad did a great job. He was understandably a little nervous - as anyone would be - but he took it seriously, asked all the right questions, and really engaged with the team. I think he may be the first non-professional to drive a two-year-old F1 car, and that’s quite an achievement.

 

An epic couple of days in London, bringing all things Papaya to over 30,000 fans in Trafalgar Square.

Huge thanks to our amazing partners who supported the event, offering incredible experiences from garage tours to sim racing and pit stop challenges. Amazing also to have so… pic.twitter.com/SxgXhqOPlx

— Zak Brown (@ZBrownCEO) July 4, 2025

The film can play a really important role in helping to grow Formula 1 by taking the sport to a new audience. It also offers a crucial touchpoint by helping fans to get closer to the sport and develop a deeper understanding of its history, personalities and drama.

But it’s not just about the big screen. In the build-up to the British Grand Prix, we hosted our own event in central London: McLaren Racing Live. It went far beyond our expectations. To see a sea of papaya filling Trafalgar Square was incredible. Forty thousand fans showed up to see the team on stage. Lando, Oscar and I loved being there. It was a powerful reminder of just how passionate and engaged the fanbase is and how much it continues to grow.

A special mention here to our CMO Louise McEwen. It was her vision, and the execution of her entire team, that brought this event to life. It was a huge production. It was brave and ambitious, but that is what McLaren is all about. It’s about winning on and off the track. Events like these - whether it’s the F1 movie, appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, or the McLaren Racing Live event in London - aren’t just feel-good moments, they’re strategically important. They create unforgettable memories, deliver value to our partners and help inspire the next generation of fans.

A change of direction

Just prior to Hungary, I was in London for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The London E-Prix was not only the final round of this season but also the last for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. We entered the all-electric series in 2023 and have enjoyed our three seasons racing there.

When we acquired the team, it was clearly very good and very professional, and Team Principal Ian James has done a great job. The entire operation has always carried our brand and values extremely well – and there have been some real highlights, which will stay with us. These include Taylor Barnard becoming the youngest-ever pole-sitter in the history of Formula E, and Sam Bird’s first win at the 2024 São Paulo E-Prix. NEOM has been a fantastic partner for McLaren as well, and I’m excited to continue our journey together in other areas.

Ultimately, I’m responsible for the strategic decision we’ve made. And given our history, and the fact we are the only team to have won the Triple Crown, it made sense for McLaren to return to top-level sportscar racing. That’s why, at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans - 30 years after our first win there - we unveiled the Hypercar that will compete in the World Endurance Championship from 2027 onwards.

Sportscar racing is going through a golden period. The grids are amazing, with just about every manufacturer you can name competing. The technical regulations and level of competitiveness make WEC a very exciting proposition, so we’re thrilled to be returning to the top class. It makes sense for our racing portfolio to reflect our DNA, which is why F1, WEC and INDYCAR are the right categories for us.

On the subject of INDYCAR, we’re also making a greater investment in our team. Right now, we’re relocating to a larger facility in Indianapolis to support our growth. It’ll be nearly triple the square footage of our current base and the renovations have been designed to provide state-of-the-art equipment, technology and workspace.

Pato has had a really strong end to the season, and we’re going to fight for the Championship down to the very last lap. Christian has given Pato a run for his money in his first season with the team. We know those two will continue to push each other, and Nolan is finding his pace and consistency to join them at the front. We have a lot of momentum in the series, especially with the recent news of FOX acquiring one-third of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Arrow McLaren is getting closer than ever to sealing an Indy 500 win once again and an outright title. We’re going to keep pushing there and in the remainder of the Formula 1 title battle this year.

To all the McLaren fans around the world - thank you for your continued support, your dedication and your loyalty. We race for you, and we can’t wait to see you back on track soon. Here’s to a thrilling end to the season. Make sure you’re with us for the journey.

Never stop racing,
Zak