Zak Brown Confirms McLaren Will Use Team Orders for F1 Drivers' Championship

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has announced that the team is prepared to implement team orders during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if it means securing the drivers' championship. Lando Norris currently leads the standings by 16 points over third-placed Oscar Piastri, with Max Verstappen 12 points behind Norris in second.

Why it matters:

McLaren's willingness to use team orders marks a significant strategic shift, prioritizing a drivers' championship win over individual driver freedom. This decision highlights the intense pressure and high stakes of the season finale, where McLaren aims to capitalize on its strong performance and secure a coveted title, which would be their first drivers' championship since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

The details:

• Championship Scenario: Lando Norris enters the Abu Dhabi GP leading the drivers' standings, 16 points ahead of Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen is currently second, 12 points adrift of Norris.
• Prior Discussions: Both McLaren drivers, Norris and Piastri, had previously stated that team orders had not been discussed, with Team Principal Andrea Stella indicating after the Qatar GP that they were free to race.
• Brown's Stance: Speaking to Sky F1 in Abu Dhabi, Brown clarified that while both drivers start with equal opportunity, team orders will be deployed if one driver clearly has a better chance of winning the championship during the race.
• Rationale: Brown emphasized, "We want to win this drivers' championship... It would be crazy not to." He reiterated that the team would not risk losing the championship to "protect a third and a fourth or a sixth and a seventh."
• Team Sport Philosophy: Brown also highlighted the team-centric nature of F1, suggesting that if one driver's title hopes fade, they would want their teammate to succeed. He cited past instances where McLaren drivers have made sacrifices for the team's benefit.

What's next:

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the ultimate test of McLaren's strategy and driver discipline. The implementation of team orders, if necessary, could dramatically alter the race dynamics and potentially decide the drivers' championship. The outcome will reveal whether Brown's "crazy" decision pays off, bringing McLaren a long-awaited F1 title and potentially setting a precedent for their future race management.