Zak Brown has criticised Helmut Marko’s comments on Lando Norris, calling them outdated and disrespectful towards mental health.
Sprint qualifying in Austin may not have gone as planned for McLaren F1, but the British team remains in a strong position to claim its first Constructors’ title in a quarter of a century!
“The atmosphere in the team is excellent,” says Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, as the final sprint of the F1 season begins.
However, Brown is cautious not to count Red Bull out just yet.
“We’ve still got six races left, including three Sprints – there’s still a lot of racing to be done. And we know how quickly this sport can change. The four top teams right now are very close to each other. So we just need to keep doing what we’ve done all year to get to this point, rather than trying anything different.”
“We’re excited about this weekend in Austin. It’s a fantastic circuit, and they’ve resurfaced a good portion of it. So, we’ll see. You know, with only one practice session, you’ve got to get up to speed quickly.”
“Keep doing what you’ve been doing – that’s what I’ve told the team. It’s working. I don’t see any reason to change what’s got us to this position. We just need to stay focused, as we know how fast things can shift in this sport.”
Can McLaren F1 win both titles?
McLaren F1 holds a 41-point lead over Red Bull in the Constructors’ standings, while Lando Norris trails by 52 points in the Drivers’ Championship. In these circumstances, does Zak Brown believe Woking can secure both titles?
“Well, those are two different prospects. We’re obviously leading the Constructors’ Championship, so we need to keep that going. Red Bull isn’t far behind, and Ferrari could be the fastest team right now. So, we’re mindful of both challenges.”
“For the drivers’ championship, Max is an exceptional driver. Even on his off days, he usually finishes second or third. We’d need Lando to win a lot of races and for Max to have an unusually bad day, worse than a second or third place. Because if Lando wins everything and Max finishes second every time, it won’t be enough (which is the case, editor’s note). So, the drivers’ title will be a bit harder, but there are still plenty of races left. We need to keep doing everything we can to support him and hope we can secure one title, or maybe even both.”
Brown calls Marko’s comments on Norris ‘inappropriate’ and ‘disappointing.’
The battle between Red Bull and McLaren is not just on the track.
How does Zak Brown respond to Helmut Marko’s jabs, suggesting that Lando Norris lacks the mental strength to compete with Max Verstappen?
The American didn’t hold back in his response to Marko.
“Lando is very excited about these last six races and the Sprints. He’s more focused than ever. You know, he approaches race weekends just like Oscar and, I imagine, like all Grand Prix drivers—completely focused on the job at hand, sitting with his engineers, doing his commercial work, handling media relations, relaxing, and so on. He’s incredibly focused.”
“I read Helmut’s comments, which I found disappointing but not surprising. Lando has been something of an ambassador for mental health. Toto has spoken about mental health. So, I think it’s a serious topic. We’ve tried to talk about it, to bring it to the forefront and make it acceptable to discuss. Maybe throwing jabs on this subject is quite inappropriate and sets us back 10 or 20 years. But, you know, part of the fun in this sport is how people race and the tactics they use from a sporting perspective. I just think this one (Marko’s jab, editor’s note) was in very poor taste.”
And how is Lando Norris mentally, as he faces the challenge of having no room for error against Max Verstappen if he wants any chance at the title?
“He’s feeling good. He plays golf on his days off. He’s eager to get back to racing. We were all excited to get back on track and continue the race programme.”
Brown responds more kindly to Verstappen…
Max Verstappen has also continued the psychological games with McLaren F1, though in a more relaxed manner. He suggested that Oscar Piastri is too talented to settle for a number two role.
Was Zak Brown equally upset by these remarks?
“No, not at all. I saw Max’s comments. I like Max. I like Max a lot. We’ve had some great conversations this year, so I think all of this is just part of the sport. Lando has no problem with it. I didn’t have a problem with it either.”
Lando Norris has stated that even if he doesn’t win the title, this season has been a success. Does Zak Brown share that view?
“It’s been an incredible season. You know, we’ve won five races, with 14 or 15 podiums in a row. So, regardless of the outcome, because this is a tough sport and we have some formidable competitors, I think no matter where we finish in either championship, we have to acknowledge that all the men and women at McLaren have done an outstanding job to achieve five wins and that many podiums. We will certainly look back on this year with pride for what we’ve accomplished.”
Marko already responds to Brown
It’s worth noting that Dr. Helmut Marko has already responded to Brown’s comments in the Austin paddock.
“I’ve seen Zak’s remarks about me, and honestly, he’s just trying to stir up a storm in a teacup with us right now.”
“I was asked who I thought would win the world championship, and I said it would be Max, because he’s the strongest mentally and the fastest driver. And if you look at how often Max gains or holds positions at the start compared to Lando, I think it becomes clear.”
“I don’t take back anything I said or think.”
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Brown criticises Marko’s outdated views on mental resilience Brown criticises Marko’s outdated views on mental resilience
