McLaren navigated a tense title battle last year with a unique approach to its driver management.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has criticized personnel for spreading “inaccurate” and “shocking” allegations against the team last year. Despite overseeing McLaren’s intense intra-team title battle between drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in 2025, Brown saw Norris emerge victorious at the final round in Abu Dhabi. The team also faced pressure from Max Verstappen’s late-season surge, posing a threat to McLaren’s championship hopes. While Verstappen closed in, Piastri struggled in form and lost his championship lead to Norris, who ultimately clinched the title. Brown refuted claims of favoritism towards Norris, emphasizing McLaren’s commitment to letting both drivers compete fairly. He highlighted the team’s pride in allowing the drivers to race competitively and addressed the mistakes made during the season. Brown dismissed the conspiracy theories and allegations as unfounded, asserting McLaren’s dedication to fair competition.
