14/08/2025 18:20
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has insisted that the team does not feel
"intimidated" by its two drivers fighting for a maiden F1 title,
and has claimed no "tension" is being felt. Oscar Piastri heads
into the final 10 grands prix with a narrow nine-point advantage
over team-mate Lando Norris, whilst Max Verstappen in third is a
sizeable 97 points adrift. Verstappen requires a miracle to claim
a fifth consecutive world championship, with the general
expectation being that it is now between the two McLaren drivers.
No McLaren driver has won the drivers' title since Lewis Hamilton
in 2008, whilst it looks set to comfortably defend its
constructors' crown. The Woking-based outfit boasts a staggering
299-point lead over Ferrari and can seal the title as soon as
Azerbaijan. With the constructors' championship effectively
sealed, most expect the tension to rise between Piastri and Norris
as the season reaches its climax. For both drivers, the current
campaign could represent their only opportunity to secure an F1
drivers' title, given the uncertainty surrounding the new power
unit regulations next year. Brown is adament McLaren is enjoying
the fight between its drivers and is not "concerned" of things
getting out of hand. "We enjoy it," Brown told Sky F1 in Hungary.
"We're racers, so to see them battling it out like we've seen now
at a handful of races, it's exciting for us, we're not doing
anything differently. "We don't feel any tension rising. We know,
obviously there's a lot at stake, but it's all very positive, and
we're enjoying it. We're not intimidated or concerned. "We know
it's going to be tough, but we've got a great relationship with
both drivers, very open and transparent, so I see no reason why
they can't have an epic fight to the finish. May, the best driver
win. "Hopefully it's between the two of them. I think there's
still enough racing to not think it's just the two of them in the
race. Hopefully, after another race or two, that will be the case,
but still a lot of racing left."
