Zach Brown: We are ready to race under any rules.

      McLaren Racing CEO Zach Brown is pleased with how this season started.…

      Q: Zach, for the first time since 2012, McLaren won the first race of the season. How does this change the situation for you and for the team in terms of pressure?Zach Brown: There is always pressure in Formula 1, every weekend, in every session. We've had a great start to the season this year, and our car is very fast. The team coped, the riders did a great job.

      In Melbourne, I felt very sorry for Oscar at the end of the race when he rolled back. It was an intense race with a lot of restarts, Max was in the fight, and it's never easy to fight him. I think we'll have an equally tough fight this weekend.

       

      After winning the Constructors' Cup last year, our drivers are confident in their abilities, they are in great shape, they have a great mood, as does the team. The whole team did a great job in the changing conditions.

      Q: Lando said yesterday that the car is difficult to drive, that it doesn't suit his driving style. Is this a cause for concern?Zach Brown: Every team is trying to make the car more comfortable for the drivers. Someone told me yesterday that we didn't have a single best time in the Bahrain tests – we tried, but we couldn't. That's why I think we need to make the car more docile.

      Our car is certainly very fast, but to win back the extra fractions of a second, you have to trust it completely. We did well in the qualifying final in Australia. I think the fact is that our drivers were pushing each other, that's why we got so far away from our rivals. There was no such advantage in the first and second sessions. Let's see how it goes in the next races. I don't think the balance of power has been determined yet.

      Question: There are various talks about the return of Formula 1 to V10 engines. How do you feel about this?Zach Brown: Formula 1 has always been a very difficult technical challenge for teams, and new rules have been introduced for this. And I don't think the approach will change in 2026.

      We are ready to race under any rules. V10 engines with eco–friendly fuel are great, but I don't really understand how to cancel the existing rules, because now there are various changes in power plants. Audi is coming, Alpine is switching to Mercedes power plants. I can't imagine how you can put the gin back in the bottle.

      For our part, we are very pleased with the Mercedes engines. We know that they will always have good engines, so it won't affect us. But if you want to change something, you'll have to figure out how to do it. However, talented Formula 1 engineers can handle any difficulties.

      Q: You mentioned that both drivers feel very confident. What can you say about Lando? Outwardly, he looks very calm, but how are things going inside the team?Zach Brown: In January, we traditionally send the riders on vacation, from which Lando and Oscar returned in great shape. It's clear that they're both focused on fighting, they've been training a lot, they've been contacting the team to find out what's going on with the car, because we have quite a lot of innovations in the car.

      In Australia, Lando felt very confident. When your teammate is pressing you in such conditions and Max is trying to attack you in the DRS zones, you need to control the situation flawlessly, and he drove the race very maturely in difficult conditions.

      Q: What about Oscar? He looks very calm, even a little detached... Zach Brown: He's always focused on fighting, always serious. That's what makes him so strong. I've been impressed with Oscar since the first day of our collaboration, so we signed a long-term contract with him. This will ensure the stability of the team and allow everyone to focus on racing. I think he had a brilliant race in Australia. I was able to recoup after the unfortunate incident. I'm happy with our drivers.