Breaking: McLaren chief admits Norris and Piastri on collision following…..read more
McLaren chief admits Norris and Piastri on collision following…..read more
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has stirred the pot in the Formula 1 world by candidly acknowledging that his driver duo, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, may be heading for an inevitable showdown. With both drivers showing exceptional form in the early stages of the 2025 season, Brown has openly admitted that tensions could rise as the battle for the world championship intensifies between the two young talents.
The latest flashpoint in the season came with Oscar Piastri’s stunning victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, which catapulted the Australian driver to the top of the championship standings. With that win, Piastri now finds himself ahead of both teammate Lando Norris and defending world champion Max Verstappen, whose season has been plagued by persistent issues with his Red Bull car.
Piastri’s win marked a significant milestone—not only did it bring him level with Norris in career victories, but it also signaled a real threat to the traditional pecking order in F1. For the first time in years, McLaren appear to be serious contenders for both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, and the internal battle between their two drivers may become just as intense as their fight against rival teams.
As McLaren surge forward with undeniable momentum, fueled by a vastly improved car and renewed team spirit, the possibility of intra-team conflict is becoming more than just a hypothetical. However, in a bold and perhaps controversial stance, Zak Brown is not shying away from the potential sparks. Speaking to De Telegraaf, the McLaren chief said he’s not worried about a clash between Norris and Piastri—in fact, he’s ready for it.
“No. I’m looking forward to it,” Brown said when asked if he feared a collision between his two star drivers. “Although ‘clash’ might not be the first word I would use. But it is inevitable that it happens once, in a season with 24 races where everyone is pushing to the limit. Then it really does happen at some point that one, for example, blocks the other or things get tight.”
Rather than putting a lid on the rising competitive tension, Brown seems to embrace the rivalry as a sign of strength and ambition within the team. His comments suggest McLaren may not be inclined to implement strict team orders—at least not yet—despite the possibility of on-track conflict.
This approach echoes the philosophies seen in historic F1 rivalries, where two competitive teammates pushed each other—and sometimes the boundaries of sportsmanship—to the brink. It’s a calculated risk: allowing both drivers to race freely can bring out their best performances, but it also opens the door to costly incidents that could derail a title campaign.
As the F1 circus heads to Miami for the next round, all eyes will be on McLaren. Will Piastri continue his charge at the top? Can Norris respond with a victory of his own? And perhaps most intriguingly—how long can the harmony last before the first real flashpoint occurs between the two papaya-clad contenders?
One thing is clear: the battle between Norris and Piastri is shaping up to be one of the most compelling narratives of the season, and McLaren may have no choice but to navigate this high-stakes rivalry with precision, diplomacy, and a bit of luck.
