McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown says that teams know that by not liking one driver over another, they can open themselves up to be beaten by external threats in a closer title race, but they accept it as a risk worth taking.
Rand Norris appeared as a challenger for Max Verstappen in 2024, but McLaren didn’t begin to support championship hopes more than Oscar Piastri until the final third of the season. That title chance was a long shot, but this year McLaren appeared as a favorite, and Brown says last season showed that he would give the driver the opportunity as long as possible, even if the team could allow their rivals to reach out to him in the future.
“We have a belief system and we just stick to it,” Brown said. “We are stuck in our belief system, we are happy with how we go to race, and we also know that it is not always right.
“There were a lot of people last year (I ask), but Oscar never won one or more races (from participating in the fight).
“We are aware of the outcome. It could be 2007. We forgot the penalty and got two drivers (Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton).
While drivers were able to equally cost McLaren in 2007 as Hamilton and Alonso grabbed points from each other and allowed Raikkonen to shout the title, Brown feels the long-term benefits of the approach outweigh the risks. James Moy/Sutton images
“Our drivers are treated fairly equally. We have neither given one priority nor asked for a contract. They want fair and equal treatment.
“So we know it benefits the team. They accept it. They’re cool with it. And if you want, that risk is 2007.
“It puts the constructor (the title) at risk. I think the other teams prefer one. It’s beneficial for the driver’s championship and harmful for the constructor. Both championships are equally important to us.
With championship leaders Piastri and Norris separated by just nine points in the rankings after their last win in Hungary in McLaren’s 200th Grand Prix victory, Brown hopes that the McLaren pair will be able to maintain a positive relationship in this year’s title fight, given their personality and the long-term deal they have.
“Essentially, I think you have two great, respectful people. I think their relationship today is the best ever,” Brown said. “So, looking at the methods I look at, I get stronger every day.
“It was a good thing from a relationship perspective, like in Montreal, so even if the competition is narrow, the relationship is strong.
“It’s our culture and driver, and I think the combination of the two is why it’s so strong. They’ll be competing with each other for a long time on the same team. So it’s important that the relationship continues to grow as the relationship is upset not just this year, but next year. And they’ll be together for a long time.
“So I think that’s our biggest strength at McLaren – on-track results and car production are the whole culture within McLaren, set at the highest level of a Crown Prince who loves McLaren. That’s all about people.