P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Brown names F1 title favourites and fears THREE second gap
McLaren F1 CEO Zak Brown didn’t name his own team as the favorites for the 2026 title, citing uncertainty with the rule reset and competitive order.
The battle for supremacy in 2026 is wide open, with McLaren not guaranteed to dominate as they did in the previous season, facing stiff competition from the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes.
The emergence of Mercedes as a strong contender following the Barcelona shakedown has shifted the focus, with Brown acknowledging their potential to come out on top.
Brown’s assessment aligns with the general sentiment in the F1 community, expecting a more evenly spread grid and closer competition in the new season.
The evolving technical challenges, including energy deployment and race strategies, will require teams to adapt their approach in the upcoming races.
While it’s early to make definitive predictions, the anticipation is that the Big Four teams will continue to lead the pack in 2026, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable season.
