Verstappen impresses McLaren: 'We won't see that again anytime soon'

Zak Brown has spoken highly of Max Verstappen. In a written letter on McLaren's website, the CEO has nice words for Verstappen and also for his own drivers.

For McLaren, 2023 was a special year. The team got off to a terrible start. Even before the year had started, the team knew they were on the wrong path with the car. There had to be a turnaround. Technical director James Key went out and a new technical committee came in. Led by Andrea Stella, that committee has been able to achieve success.

Why Brown is impressed with Verstappen

But one man often beat McLaren. "Credit must go to Max Verstappen, who broke all the records in a year of domination in 2023 — the likes of which I doubt we’ll ever see again. In Hungary, when Red Bull Racing eclipsed McLaren’s long-held record from 1988 (to win their 12th consecutive Grand Prix), it was fitting we were able to share the podium to celebrate their achievement — despite Lando’s slight mishap with the trophy!"

McLaren finished 2023 strongly, still finishing fourth among the constructors. Lando Norris is still the team's leader, but with the arrival of Oscar Piastri, he does have a formidable rival. Brown, therefore, believes his team has the strongest driver duo.

"I believe we have the strongest driver pairing on the Formula 1 grid. Many agree that Oscar has been a revelation in his rookie campaign, and he has already shown he is able to fight at the front with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. It was a shame he missed out on a podium at Silverstone, due to the timing of the Safety Car, but he did achieve his first at Suzuka before his brilliant victory in the Qatar Sprint, both of which prove he is an exceptional talent. With a new contract that takes Oscar with us through to the end of 2026, I’ve no doubt he’ll continue to impress as he gains more experience."