Overhauling Red Bull in the final year of F1\u2019s ground-effect era, Zak Brown is not frustrated that Formula 1 is undergoing a technical reset this year, he\u2019s relishing the challenge that lies ahead.<\/p>\n
Four years into Formula 1\u2019s ground-effect era, which ran from 2022 to 2025, McLaren clinched the championship double for the first time since 1998 as Lando Norris won the Drivers\u2019 title with Oscar Piastri helping McLaren to the teams\u2019 trophy.<\/p>\n
McLaren chief: That\u2019s the exciting part of Formula One<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Alas, all of that counts for nothing this year.<\/p>\n Although Norris will carry the number \u20181\u2019 on his car, that\u2019s about all McLaren<\/a> will carry over \u2013 at least on the track \u2013 from last year\u2019s success.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because this season Formula 1 is undergoing the biggest technical reset in the sport\u2019s history with all-new cars and a new engine formula.<\/p>\n The cars are not only 20 centimetres shorter and 30kgs lighter, they also incorporate active aerodynamics and will be powered by engines that run on sustainable fuel with an increase in electrification to a 50\/50 split with the internal combustion engine.<\/p>\n \u2018Overtake\u2019 mode, an increase in engine power that can be activated when a car is within one second of the car ahead in certain areas of the track, replaces DRS while \u2018boost\u2019 is available at any point in the lap for an added power injection.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a step into the unknown for every one of the 11 teams.<\/p>\n F1 2026: Formula 1\u2019s season of change<\/p>\n F1 2026 uncovered: How Boost, Overtake, and sustainable fuel change the game<\/a><\/p>\n MOM is out and Boost Mode in as key F1 2026 terms defined<\/a><\/p>\n For McLaren, it comes at a time when the Woking team finally returned to the top step of Formula 1 season\u2019s podium.<\/p>\n Winning the Constructors\u2019 title in 2024, the team added a second successive teams\u2019 trophy last season while Norris wrapped up the Drivers\u2019 title by two points to end Max Verstappen and Red Bull\u2019s reign.<\/p>\n But rather than be frustrated by the timing, Brown says everyone at McLaren is up for the challenge that lies ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, it\u2019s been an amazing quest to go from where we were, not only on track, but off track,\u201d he told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as the rule book, that\u2019s the exciting part of Formula 1, we\u2019ve got to do it all over again.<\/p>\n \u201cWe changed a lot of our car this year so even though the rules didn\u2019t significantly change, our technical team didn\u2019t sit still.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just like our technical team, you know, the our leadership team, our CFO, our head of HR, our commercial team, our head of comms, chief of staff, they all have to do an amazing job because the complexity of a Formula 1 team to be able to put the technical team and the racing team in a position to win.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of stuff that has to go on behind the scenes to even give them the tools, the resources and us the people.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s a great accomplishment, because we definitely earned it the hard way, and now we got to do it all over again, and it\u2019ll be tough, because, as I say, the worst team in Formula 1 is really good.<\/p>\n \u201cSo not only the competition of the drivers, the competition of the teams. There\u2019s no more small teams anymore. There\u2019s none of those minnow teams that we all grew up with.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, everyone\u2019s running at the cost cap. The sports unbelievably healthy and, yeah, it\u2019s been very enjoyable, and looking forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n McLaren and its rival Mercedes-powered team will get their first indication as to whether the Mercedes power unit could be the one to beat when testing begins in late January.<\/p>\n Formula 1 will host the first group test with the new cars beginning January 26th in a behind-closed-doors outing in Spain.<\/p>\n Teams will then head to Bahrain for the first open test with media and fans able to see the cars in action. That runs from 11 to 13 February with a second Bahrain outing from 18 to 20 February.<\/p>\n The F1 2026 season<\/a> will begin with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Mat Coch and Thomas Maher<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n