Brown stops McLaren fans' hearts with unabashed Piastri vs Norris assessment

16:56, 08 Aug

byNorberto Mujica

As Formula 1 heads into its mid-season break, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown offered a candid assessment of the team’s performance and what is to come in an open letter to fans.

Brown began by celebrating McLaren’s recent milestones. The team notched its 200th Grand Prix win in Hungary, making them only the second outfit in F1 history to reach this milestone, and currently leads the championship by nearly 300 points.

Brown sets McLaren on the relentless F1 hunt for miliseconds

On top of that, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris occupy P1 and P2 in the Drivers’ standings. He paid tribute to the contributions of the team, fans, the “papaya army” and partners in achieving such success.

Looking ahead, Brown stressed that resting on laurels is not an option. “When you rest on your laurels, any competitive edge you have can disappear in the blink of an eye.” He urged everyone to continue pushing for improvement, down to milliseconds.

He highlighted key moments from the season to date including the Monaco Grand Prix, a core part of McLaren’s Triple Crown heritage, and Bahrain, a first home win for their long-time investors. He also noted the team’s six wins for Oscar and five for Lando, including seven 1–2 finishes, their strongest run since the legendary Senna–Prost era of 1988.

'Brown pledges to let Piastri and Norris fight, as benefits outweight consequences'

On internal dynamics, Brown reaffirmed confidence in the driver pairing. "Firstly, I’ve said it before, but I truly believe we have the best driver line-up in Formula 1, and I wouldn’t trade it for any other."

They are committed to offering both equal chances at the title and believe the resulting on-track rivalry not only excites fans but benefits the team, provided it is managed wisely.

"Secondly, when you have two drivers going head-to-head for the World Championship, there’s naturally a lot of excitement - and we share that excitement. There’s nothing we like more than watching these guys battle it out. So may the best man win."

"Of course, we recognise that incidents have happened and will happen again. It’s all about how well you’re prepared for those moments and how you deal with them."

'Adrenaline and pressure will rise, but McLaren will handle it'

He praised Montreal, where Norris crashed into the back of Piastri, as a standout example of how effectively they handled pressure.

"I think Montreal was a shining example of how well everyone handled the situation. We know the risk of not throwing our weight behind one driver, but we will give Oscar and Lando equal opportunity to fight it out on track to win the Drivers’ World Championship."

"That’s exciting for us, and for the sport. We believe the benefits of racing this way far outweigh the consequences - despite the fact we know incidents can happen. I’m not naive."

"The adrenaline and pressure will rise," Brown warned. "But the team will continue to work in harmony and manage the situations as they come. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic end to the year. I can’t wait to get back on track once the summer shutdown is over."

Brown closed with a big thank you to McLaren fans

Beyond F1, Brown reflected on McLaren Racing’s direction. Their Formula E program is concluding this season, laying the foundation for a return to World Endurance Championship competition in 2027 with a new Hypercar. He tied this move to McLaren’s Triple Crown legacy.

In IndyCar, Brown confirmed the team is investing heavily, relocating to a larger, state-of-the-art facility in Indianapolis, as they push for renewed success at the Indy 500 and a title fight. Momentum is strong, he said, bolstered by recent developments such as FOX acquiring a stake in the series.

Brown closed his letter with gratitude: “To all the McLaren fans around the world, thank you for your continued support, your dedication and your loyalty. We race for you... Here’s to a thrilling end to the season.”