Zak Brown Dismisses Australian Senator's McLaren Bias Claims
McLaren CEO Zak Brown vehemently dismissed Australian Senator Matt Canavan's claims that the team is biased against Oscar Piastri, calling the remarks "uninformed." Brown affirmed McLaren's commitment to fair and equal treatment for both Piastri and Lando Norris, highlighting Piastri's own statements on the matter. He reiterated that while the team aims for equal opportunity, strategic decisions, including potential team orders, would be made pragmatically to secure championship victories.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has emphatically rejected claims from Australian Senator Matt Canavan that the team is favoring Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri in their 2025 title aspirations, calling the senator's remarks "uninformed and uneducated."
Why it matters:
Accusations of favoritism within an F1 team can sow discord and undermine a driver's morale, especially when coming from public figures. Brown's strong rebuttal aims to protect the team's integrity and maintain unity as McLaren navigates a competitive season and potential title fight.
The Details:
- Senator's Claim: Senator Canavan suggested during a parliamentary committee session that McLaren might be "biased" against Piastri, potentially "costing him the world championship."
- Brown's Response: Ahead of the Abu Dhabi season finale, Brown expressed disbelief, stating, "I think Oscar himself has talked about fair and equitable, we make mistakes, but I think Oscar has been our number one spokesperson." He added that Piastri has "never said a single word that anything's ever not felt right."
- Dismissal of Criticism: Brown acknowledged public support for national heroes but dismissed the senator's comments as coming from someone "very uninformed and uneducated about our sport." He indicated he wouldn't spend time correcting such views.
- Team Orders Philosophy: Brown clarified that McLaren's policy on team orders remains consistent. While they start weekends with equal opportunity for both drivers, they will apply "common sense" if one driver clearly has a better chance at the championship.
- He cited an instance from the previous year in Baku where, despite Norris having a better statistical chance, Piastri ended up winning the race with Norris's support.
- Pragmatism Over Politics: Brown emphasized that the team's priority is winning the drivers' and constructors' championships, stating they "won't throw away a drivers' championship" over minor placings if one driver is out of contention.
What's Next:
As McLaren gears up for the final races, Brown's clear message reinforces the team's commitment to winning, while asserting that their internal processes are fair and focused on achieving the best possible results. The team will continue its pragmatic approach, prioritizing championship outcomes, and working closely with both drivers to execute their race plans.