Zak Brown is expecting a tough challenge from Mercedes in the upcoming 2024 season due to the significant improvement in their pace. Multiple teams, including Mercedes and McLaren, have shown remarkable progress this season. Despite McLaren’s dominant performance, Mercedes has managed to win three races, indicating their strong form. Brown predicts that Mercedes will remain a formidable force for the rest of the campaign.
McLaren currently holds the second position in the constructors’ championship and enjoys a comfortable lead of over 100 points over Mercedes. Therefore, they are not directly threatened by Brackley’s performance in terms of losing their runner-up spot. However, Brown acknowledges that McLaren needs to maximize their points in the battle against Mercedes if they want to maintain their advantage.
With Mercedes showing a newfound improvement in pace, Brown believes that Brackley will be exceptionally strong in the latter half of the 2024 season. Despite this, the CEO of McLaren is satisfied with their current lead in the constructors’ championship. However, he emphasizes the need for continuous improvement in chassis performance to stay ahead of the German carmaker.
McLaren’s progress in pace has put them in a position to challenge Red Bull for the constructors’ championship. The recent struggles of Milton Keynes have further increased McLaren’s chances. Brown sets his sights on defeating all nine teams on the grid and does not rule out the possibility of Ferrari catching up to McLaren.
The 2024 season has brought intense competition to the forefront. For the first time in the ground-effect era, Red Bull faces the risk of losing their top spot. As a result, the remaining races of the season will serve as valuable learning opportunities for both this year and the final year under these regulations.
Photo from Zak Brown Instagram
