The McLaren CEO on the pressure in the title race, controversial scenes in the race, and Lando Norris’ strong development
The relief was clearly evident in Zak Brown. After one of the most intense races of the season, the McLaren CEO spoke about a finale that demanded everything from him and his team. “It was a great season,” Brown said in an interview.
He also expressed his respect for his competitors. “Hats off to Max and Red Bull, who pushed us so hard,” said the American, praising the defending champion’s performance. The situation before the race was clear: Lando Norris had to finish no lower than third. “There was no leeway, no room for error,” Brown explained the precarious situation.
The red danger
The start went perfectly for McLaren. Oscar Piastri cleanly overtook his teammate and set off in pursuit of Max Verstappen. “Oscar drove perfectly,” Brown praised the Australian.
But behind Norris, Charles Leclerc was lurking in his Ferrari, constantly in the DRS window. “That was not a comfortable place to be, because you can overtake there,” Brown described the danger. Norris managed the situation confidently, but an incident involving Yuki Tsunoda caused some discussion.
Brown’s assessment was self-critical: “Lando’s maneuver when overtaking Yuki was a bit over the line, literally.” When asked, he clarified: “Yes, it was a bit much, but there was a lot at stake.”
Fear of safety cars
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko had already criticized the move. Brown did not vehemently defend his driver, but rather put the scene into context in terms of the title fight.
The tension at the command center was enormous, he reported. “You worry about safety cars, which happened here in 2021.” The memory of the chaotic finale four years ago was omnipresent. Even with a comfortable lead in the final laps, Brown remained tense. “On TV, it might look like, ‘Hey, five laps to go, they’ve got it under control.’ But you’re just worried about everything.”
Norris impresses with mental strength
The McLaren boss referred to bitter experiences from other racing series. “Whether it’s Le Mans on the last lap or Indy on the last corner, it’s not over until it’s over.” Brown spoke at length about the development of Lando Norris. The Briton’s talent is undisputed, but his mental maturity this season has made all the difference. “The way he has matured, even in the second half of this year—he has behaved like a champion,” Brown analyzed. The phase as World Championship leader has strengthened Norris: “It helped him to know: I can do this.”
The subsequent role reversal from the hunted to the hunter may even have been beneficial. “That really gave him confidence,” Brown said. Brown is aware of the historic dimension of the success. After dueling with Ferrari last year, he now beat Red Bull and Max Verstappen, which he described as a “real achievement.”
At the same time, he emphasized the importance of Oscar Piastri for the future: “It’s clear that he can also become world champion.”
The celebrations were pragmatic. “Tonight: celebrate, pack, fly home,” Brown announced. The triumph will be honored together with everyone involved in Woking.
