McLaren Must Ignore 'Horror Movie' Verstappen, Says Brown
McLaren CEO Zak Brown says his team must ignore Max Verstappen, calling him a "horror movie" character as the Red Bull driver remains a serious title threat. Verstappen, 24 points behind Lando Norris with two rounds left, has made a significant comeback. Brown emphasized focusing on McLaren's own performance to secure first and second, as Verstappen confidently claims he would have already won the championship with McLaren's 2025 car. The Qatar Grand Prix will be crucial in this tight title race.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown says his team must ignore the “horror movie” character Max Verstappen, even as the Red Bull driver remains a serious threat in the F1 title race. Verstappen, who starts sixth for Saturday's Sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix, is 24 points behind championship leader Lando Norris with two rounds remaining. The Dutchman has clawed his way back into title contention since falling 104 points behind Oscar Piastri after August's Dutch Grand Prix, and will mathematically still be in the championship for the deciding event in Abu Dhabi if his deficit to Norris is less than 26 points.
Why it matters:
McLaren is in a fierce championship battle, with Norris leading but Verstappen consistently closing the gap. Brown's comments highlight the mental game and the intense pressure on McLaren to perform, focusing on their own execution rather than being distracted by a rival's formidable comeback. The championship is precariously balanced, making every point crucial in the remaining races.
The details:
- Verstappen's comeback: Verstappen has significantly reduced his points deficit, now just 24 points behind Norris, after being 104 points adrift of Oscar Piastri earlier in the season. He remains a mathematical contender for the Abu Dhabi finale if the gap is under 26 points after Qatar.
- Brown's 'Horror Movie' Analogy: Brown described Verstappen as a "horror movie character" who keeps returning, praising him as an "immense talent, as good as anyone we have ever seen." He stressed that McLaren's focus must be on achieving first and second finishes to negate Verstappen's threat.
- Verstappen's Confidence: Verstappen asserted that if he had McLaren's 2025 car, he would have "easily" won the Drivers' Championship already, indicating his strong belief in his own abilities and the potential of McLaren's machinery.
- Qatar Sprint Outlook: Verstappen starts sixth for the Sprint after struggling with bouncing, a rare occurrence of being outqualified by teammate Yuki Tsunoda. He described the Sprint as "more about trying to survive."
- Norris's Sprint Challenge: Norris starts behind George Russell and Sprint pole-sitter Oscar Piastri, admitting that overtaking is difficult and he likely aims for P3 at best due to an issue on his final lap. Piastri has an opportunity to cut into Norris's lead in the Sprint, having recently regained form after struggling in earlier American races.
What's next:
The Qatar Grand Prix Sprint weekend continues, with the Sprint race and main Grand Prix providing critical opportunities for all three drivers to gain or lose ground in the championship. The performance in Qatar will set the stage for the season finale in Abu Dhabi, where the championship could ultimately be decided.
- Saturday, November 29: Sprint race at 2 PM GMT, followed by Qualifying at 6 PM GMT.
- Sunday, November 30: The main Qatar Grand Prix at 4 PM GMT.
- The championship outcome hinges on McLaren's ability to maximize their performance and fend off Verstappen's relentless pursuit, with Brown's directive to ignore the Red Bull driver underscoring the high stakes involved.