F1 NEWS: Zak Brown Faces Tough Decisions Amid McLaren’s T…read more
F1 NEWS: Zak Brown Faces Tough Decisions Amid McLaren’s T…read more
McLaren CEO Zak Brown may soon have to intervene in a growing rivalry between his drivers, as tensions rise over team orders following the opening races of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Oscar Piastri’s frustration was evident after the Australian Grand Prix, where Lando Norris took the victory while Piastri spun out. However, the young Australian rebounded by winning the Chinese Grand Prix from pole position. So far, McLaren has managed to avoid a direct clash between the two, but their dominance in the early part of the season suggests such scenarios are inevitable.
F1 Nation host Tom Clarkson believes Brown enjoys the competition between Norris and Piastri but acknowledges that McLaren’s advantage in the Constructors’ Championship will determine how much freedom the drivers are given. “Zak is a disrupter. He will relish the battle between those guys,” Clarkson stated. “As long as the gap is big enough in the constructors’, he will let them get on with it.”
Commentator Alex Jacques added, “He’s got no choice. Try managing them – how’s that going to go down? We know an order has gone down badly. Unless in circumstances where it makes sense… Oscar has proven [in China] that he can stick ahead of Lando, so it will be extremely difficult, given how closely matched they are.”
Piastri was recently signed to a new McLaren contract reportedly putting him on level terms with Norris in salary, emphasizing the team’s confidence in both drivers. With each claiming a race win in the opening two rounds, Norris currently leads the drivers’ standings, while McLaren heads the constructors’ standings.
McLaren’s Advantage in 2025
McLaren’s mid-season resurgence in 2024 carried into this year, solidifying their position as F1’s fastest team. The extent of their advantage, however, remains uncertain.
“How big an advantage do we think McLaren have at this stage? I don’t think we have seen the extent of their advantage,” said Clarkson. “Tyre wear is where they are brilliant. And the strength of the hard tyre [in China] meant there was no managing from anyone. But the moment we go to a race track like Suzuka, which is much more demanding on tyres, we will see the true extent of the advantage which I expect to grow.”
While McLaren looks strong, rivals Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull have yet to reveal their full potential. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton took pole and won the sprint race in China, while Mercedes’ George Russell secured podium finishes in both Australia and China. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, despite challenges, also claimed a podium in Australia.
Journalist Laura Winter cautioned against prematurely declaring McLaren as runaway leaders: “It’s really early doors to say ‘McLaren have won.’ I know this is a year where car development is less, because of the nod to 2026 [the new F1 regulations]. But equally, McLaren’s development will stop. There will be convergence.”
With Suzuka on the horizon, the true pecking order of F1’s top teams will become clearer. For now, Brown must navigate an increasingly complex driver dynamic, ensuring that McLaren’s internal battle does not cost them their early-season dominance.
