McLaren chief Zak Brown has expressed concern over Max Verstappen’s recent surge, as the Red Bull driver has been rapidly closing the gap to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in the championship battle. This resurgence threatens the lead that the Woking-based team hoped to maintain during the second half of the Formula 1 season.
The early stages of the season mostly saw McLaren’s duo, Piastri and Lando Norris, locked in close competition for race victories every weekend. However, the dynamic shifted after the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where Piastri secured a win, Norris retired, and Verstappen finished a strong second. Since then, Verstappen has reversed the momentum, dominating races from Monza onwards.
At both the Italian Grand Prix in Monza and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, Verstappen outperformed the McLaren drivers decisively. In Monza, he secured a commanding victory ahead of Piastri and Norris, while in Baku, Verstappen capitalized on a disappointing weekend for both McLaren drivers to extend his championship challenge.
As a consequence, Verstappen reduced Piastri’s lead to 69 points, a figure that has caused unease at McLaren, with Brown acknowledging the threat posed by the Red Bull driver’s pace. Speaking to Bloomberg, Brown commented,
“I think you have got to pay attention to Max. We have got to keep doing what we’re doing. The constructors’ is looking very good. We had a chance to wrap it up in Baku, but let’s not talk back at Baku. Hopefully we can get the job done in Singapore.” — Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
Brown’s Ideal Scenario: A Title Fight Among McLaren Drivers
Zak Brown outlined his preferred outcome for the championship fight, hoping the contest will ultimately be between McLaren’s own drivers. Ideally, Brown would like to see Verstappen removed from title contention, leaving Piastri and Norris to battle through to the final race of the season. He stated,
“What we want to do is we want our two drivers and Max – but we’d like to kind of get him out of there – to fight for the championship and just give them equal opportunity, equal equipment, which is what we’re doing. May the best man win. That’s what we want to do. We’d like to not play a role, if at all possible.” — Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
He also elaborated on the setbacks the McLaren drivers have faced, noting the impact of unforeseen incidents on their championship campaign. Brown added,
“Lando had a mechanical [failure, at Zandvoort] and things can happen, safety cars and things of that nature. Our goal is to just set Lando and Oscar up to be competing for the championship down to Abu Dhabi, and may the best driver win.” — Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
Challenges Ahead: Verstappen’s Edge on Low-Downforce Circuits
Verstappen’s recent surge has coincided with races on tracks characterized by low downforce requirements, scenarios that have suited his driving style and Red Bull’s car performance. As the championship moves to Singapore, a circuit known for its high-downforce demands and unique setup challenges, the dynamics could shift once again.
The Singapore track will test Verstappen’s adaptability and Red Bull’s engineering as much as McLaren’s capacity to keep up. How Verstappen performs here could influence the momentum going into the final phase of the season and potentially alter the championship landscape further.
Significance of the Championship Battle and Its Future Outlook
The current tight points race highlights the intense competition between McLaren and Red Bull this season. With Verstappen closing in rapidly on Piastri and Norris, McLaren faces a critical period to defend its lead and consolidate its position in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
Zak Brown’s commentary reveals McLaren’s determination to remain competitive while hoping for a title fight that favors their drivers. As the season progresses toward its conclusion in Abu Dhabi, the performances in upcoming races, including Singapore, will be pivotal in deciding who ultimately claims the crown.
