McLaren CEO Zak Brown has confirmed that the team are prepared to use team orders if needed to ensure one of their drivers wins the championship in Abu Dhabi, concluding that “it would be crazy not to”.
The three-way title fight between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen adn Oscar Piastri will be decided at the season finale, with everything coming down to the 58-lap Grand Prix after the briton failed to secure victory last time out in Qatar, which would have secured him the title.
Norris could only manage fourth place in Lusail after his team’s option strategy didn’t work out, while his Red Bull rival won the race.The lead mclaren is nevertheless still top of the standings with 408 points,a slim advantage of 12 points over Verstappen,with Piastri finding himself only 16 points behind.All Norris needs to do to win his maiden title is finish on the podium at the Yas Marina Circuit, but there are so many situations that could unfold – one involves Piastri running in the top three, with his team mate in fourth just like in the Qatar Grand Prix.
In that scenario, the Australian would be mathematically ruled out of the championship, but if he let Norris through then McLaren would still win the drivers’ title, even if Verstappen took victory in the race.Asked whether they would use team orders in an interview with Sky sports, Brown responded: “Absolutely. we’re a racing team, but we’re also a business. We need to do what’s right for McLaren. If that means team orders, then we’ll absolutely consider it. It would be crazy not to.”
McLaren’s Brown States Drivers Will Prioritize Team Championship in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, has affirmed that his drivers will prioritize securing the team’s overall success in the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, even if it means possibly impacting individual championship aspirations. This comes as Lando Norris trails Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship standings,with Verstappen poised to clinch the title if he finishes fourth or higher in the final race of the season.
Brown emphasized McLaren’s commitment to a team-first approach, referencing the “papaya rules” – internal guidelines emphasizing fairness and collaboration – that have been in effect throughout the 2024 season.He believes these principles were instrumental in winning the Constructors’ Championship in Singapore and will be crucial in Abu Dhabi. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/brown-mclaren-drivers-championship-abu-dhabi/10548991/
Team Strategy Over Individual Ambition
“We want to win the Drivers’ Championship,” Brown stated. “So,we’ll kind of see how the race plays out,but we’re not going to not win the championship because we’re trying to protect a third and a fourth or a sixth and a seventh,or however the situation may play out.” He reiterated that Formula 1 is a team sport, and McLaren’s goal is to win both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships as a unified team.
This suggests that McLaren drivers will be permitted to race strategically,potentially assisting each other to maximize the team’s points haul,even if it compromises one driver’s individual position in the Drivers’ Championship.
Precedent for Team Play
Brown pointed to examples from the 2023 season, specifically the Sprint race in Brazil and the Qatar grand Prix, where McLaren drivers demonstrated a willingness to prioritize the team’s objectives. He highlighted that this kind of sacrifice is common in sports,where teammates often work together to achieve collective success.
“If one of them can’t win, they want the other to win. And that’s what the team wants.And they are team players,” Brown explained. “You saw that in the Sprint in Brazil and I think it was Qatar. so, I don’t think it’s unusual in any sport for team mates to make sacrifices for each other to give the team what they want.”
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is scheduled for December 8th, 2024, and will be the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season. https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2024/Abu_Dhabi.html
Worth a look