Zak Brown backtracks on the ‘McLaren way,’ claims Oscar Piastri will help Lando Norris

McLaren CEO Zak Brown revealed that the Woking-based squad will favor Lando Norris instead of Oscar Piastri in the championship battle.

Zak Brown backtracks on the ‘McLaren way,’ claims Oscar Piastri will help Lando Norris

Lando Norris with Oscar Piastri and Zak Brown(all images via IMAGO)

McLaren have the fastest car on the F1 grid at this moment. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are fighting for victory at every race. However, this has created a problem for the Woking-based squad as the team could lose points if its two drivers keep fighting one another. Now, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has changed his position regarding the drivers.

Previously, Zak Brown insisted that having two number 1 drivers was the ‘McLaren way’ of racing. The McLaren boss had even revealed that Norris and Piastri just needed to follow the Papaya rules. However, Brown has now stated that Oscar Piastri will do everything he can to help Lando Norris in the title fight against Max Verstappen.

YouTube video
Oscar is going to do everything he can to help.
Zak Brown said on DaleJr. Download.

The 52-year-old highlighted that both Norris and Piastri were amazing drivers. However, Lando Norris had a better mathematical chance at defeating Verstappen. As such, McLaren will seemingly put its weight behind the Briton. Although, Zak Brown did not explicitly state that that the British squad will implement team orders.

FS Video
They're both awesome but Lando is now in a position where he can mathematically see it.
Zak Brown explained.
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Zak Brown admits things did not go in McLaren’s favor in Monza

During the Italian GP, Oscar Piastri was starting right behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. However, an aggressive move by the Australian pushed Norris to third. Zak Brown confessed that the decision to let both cars race did not work out for the team. This could potentially hurt the British squad in the Constructors’ standings with both drivers ultimately losing the race to Charles Leclerc.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri (image via IMAGO)
We let them go in Monza, that didn't work out great for us as a team. We entered turn 4 1st and 2nd, we came out 1st and 3rd. That's not what you want as a team in the constructors.
Zak Brown stated

Certainly, McLaren now seems to have a more clear stance regarding its two drivers. The British squad could soon ensure that Piastri does not get in Norris’ way. However, it remains to be seen how Oscar Piastri reacts to the team’s decision.

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