Lando Norris closes in on Oscar Piastri – McLaren CEO Zak Brown talks about the intensifying World Championship duel and the threat of incidents
McLaren currently dominates Formula 1 – and has a luxury that other teams can only dream of: two championship contenders in their own cars. After the double victory at Silverstone, the gap between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris has shrunk to just eight points. Team boss Zak Brown knows that this brings excitement – and risks.
“Sooner or later, there will be racing accidents,” Brown said after the British Grand Prix. “But that’s okay — those are racing mistakes, and they’re part of the game.”
After Montreal: The bubble burst
The reference is to the incident in Canada, where Norris and Piastri got in each other’s way during the race. There were no team orders at the time, and Norris drove into his teammate from behind. But looking back, Brown sees it as a cleansing break.
“The air was out of the balloon in Montreal. It was a moment that did us good. We got it behind us, everyone talked about it – and I think that has actually strengthened the confidence within the team and among the drivers.”
A look at Silverstone proves him right: McLaren was in a class of its own there. And although there was again no clear team management, the race between the two drivers remained clean and sporting. Norris won, Piastri finished second – and still remains the championship leader.
Piastri’s emotional side visible for the first time
Sky expert Jenson Button asked Zak Brown about the fact that Oscar Piastri was seen looking emotionally shaken in front of the cameras for the first time after losing the Silverstone victory due to a ten-second penalty – an unusual sight for the otherwise so controlled Australian.
“When you feel like something has been taken away from you, you don’t get out of the car happy,” said Brown. “But he’ll get over it. He’s leading the world championship. He’ll be back on the attack in the next race.”
Brown admits that it is also the team’s job to provide mental support to the young drivers. Sometimes a well-placed word is enough. “I whispered something in his ear, he had to laugh – and I knew I had him back on track.”
No team orders: May the best man win
Given the tight constellation in the world championship, McLaren does not want to introduce team orders. “We treat them equally, fairly, transparently. And if it comes down to a decision between them at the end, then the best man should win.”
Brown particularly appreciates the fact that both drivers race hard but respectfully against each other: “Neither will push the other off the track. They are clean racers – and that’s exactly what makes it so exciting.”
With Norris’ victory and the double win at Silverstone, one thing is clear: the 2025 world championship title will most likely be decided between the two McLaren drivers. Max Verstappen is already 69 points behind Piastri in third place, and given Red Bull’s current slump, a comeback seems unlikely.