Zak Brown Slams McLaren's Qatar GP Strategy: "We Gave His Win Away"

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown candidly admitted the team "clearly made a huge mistake" with its strategy at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, acknowledging that better results for both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were squandered by the decision not to pit under an early safety car.

Why it matters:

McLaren's strategic blunder in Qatar cost them a potential victory and a double podium, significantly impacting their championship aspirations. In a sport where every point counts, especially in a tight championship battle, such missteps can define a season and highlight the immense pressure on strategists to make split-second decisions with high stakes.

The Details:

• Oscar Piastri, starting from pole, controlled the race for the first seven laps, with Lando Norris alongside him on the front row.
• An early safety car, triggered by contact between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly on Lap 7, presented a critical strategic window.
• The Error: McLaren controversially decided to keep both its drivers out on track, while nearly every other competitor, including Max Verstappen, opted to pit for fresh tires. This left Piastri and Norris out of sync with the field's strategy.
• Race Outcome: Max Verstappen capitalized on this, eventually taking the win. Piastri finished second, and Norris finished fourth, a result Brown described as giving away a win and a podium.
• Brown's Reaction: Speaking to Sky Germany, Brown was unequivocal: "We clearly made a huge mistake... We gave his win away. I think it's the reality. There's no other way to look at it. And we gave Lando's podium away. Very frustrating."
• Decision-Making: Brown clarified that the decision was not influenced by a desire for fairness between drivers, but rather an "evaluation issue" regarding the timing of the safety car on Lap 7.
• Learning Curve: This marks the second consecutive weekend with significant strategic "learnings" for the team, as they prepare for the season-deciding race in Abu Dhabi.

What's next:

McLaren must swiftly learn from this costly error as they head into the final race in Abu Dhabi, where the championship battle will culminate. The team's ability to execute a flawless strategy will be paramount if they are to maximize their drivers' chances and avoid similar self-inflicted wounds that could derail their championship ambitions. Brown emphasized the need to "come back strong in Abu Dhabi" and avoid repeating such mistakes, especially with the championship on the line for Piastri.