Zak Brown confirms McLaren Abu Dhabi GP team orders stance Crazy not to do what we can to win’ is the headline that is rocking the Formula 1 paddock as we head to a grand season finale. As the championship title fight narrows to the last race at Abu Dhabi, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown made it very clear that in the event that only one of their own, the drivers Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, still stands a realistic chance at the race, team orders will be imposed unquestionably. One point only matters and that is to win the championship of the drivers.
Norris is currently leading the title race by a very close margin, ahead of Max Verstappen by 12 points with Piastri four points ahead of Red Bull driver. In the two remaining alive in the competition, McLaren has demanded the entire season that it uphold its popularly welcomed notion of “papaya rules” that both cars may be on the road provided they make it clean on the road. The excitement of this policy among the fans in the first half of the season was that Norris and Piastri could provide wheel-to-wheel contactless battles. But as the title asten the pressure, the criticism increased on whether McLaren should be made more focused on the larger championship purpose instead of happiness of equality.
In the Abu Dhabi press conference, both Norris and Piastri disclosed the fact that there has not been a formal conversation about any of the orders related to a team yet, and the drivers are currently nothing but focused solely on performance. It was however, much more direct speaking to Sky Sports F1, with Brown. To start with, he ensured that the era of abstractionary liberalism had passed. In case one driver has lost the mathematical opportunity to win, the other would be given priority. Yes, yes, of course, said Brown. We’re realistic. We would like to take this drivers championship. He made it clear that it would not make sense to fail to act strategically. He indicates that after the evolvement of the race, qualifying will unfold and variables of reliability will settle, McLaren will go in whenever necessary. In his words he would be crazy not to back the driver with a real title shot.
Nonetheless, Brown stressed that the drivers have equal opportunities to get into the weekend and that the decision will be put to practice only when the circumstances will indicate it. According to him, this staff will not forego a possible championship just to maintain finishing slots out of the title contest, since they will not defend third and fourth, sixth and seventh, against the possibility of victory instead. After all, Brown emphasized one more time Formula 1 is a team work and it is impossible to win the Championship without sacrifices. He reminded the fans that the team has exhibited teamwork before, giving them the past races that Norris and Piastri have worked together to achieve the team success including Brazil and Qatar.
Lastly, McLaren team principal, Andrea Stella, vindicated the position of Brown, but solidified the idea of transparency and fairness within the team. Stella observed that no decision could be made without conforming with the values that the team adhered to which were integrity, fairness, and never coming as a surprise. He attested that additional discussions will be carried out internally prior to the race so that both drivers can be aware of expectations and that they also feel respected in the process. He has made it clear that in case one of the drivers is still in a genuine contention of the title, the team will be in full support of them and only when the teammate is really needed will the team request the teammate to help him/her.
With the title in a single last duel defended under the lights of Yas Marina, the tensions may not be any greater. The cool and peaceful message of McLaren has been substituted with the one that is decisive and competitive: whatever it takes to have their first drivers make it with their first title in eight years. As Norris and Piastri join forces with Verstappen, the battle of the ages is on the verge of happening, and team dictate can be the thing of the season that has already provided drama never seen before. Abu Dhabi is ready. The world is watching.
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