McLaren CEO Zak Brown has admitted he believes that Max Verstappen is still a live threat to his team’s in-house Formula 1 title fight.
But Brown stands firm in his decision to conduct ‘papaya rules’ in the final eight races in the 2025 season, even with the Red Bull driver breathing down the team’s neck.
Oscar Piastri currently leads the driver standings with 336 points from his teammate Lando Norris 22 points behind and Verstappen in third, 63 points from the top.
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Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing congratulate each other in Parc Ferme. LAT Images
“While we’d like it to solely come down to our two guys, Max is still very much in the game,” Brown said.
“I think what has been key is that the team have remained so focused but also very humble.
“So, we’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing.
“Our strategy isn’t going to change because we’ve won the Constructors’, we’re going to approach the remaining race weekends in the same way we’ve approached every one before it.
“That’s what we’re here to do: win races and win championships.
“And we couldn’t be hungrier.”
The McLaren F1 Team celebrates its 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championship victory in the pit lane with champagne following the 2025 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. NurPhoto via Getty Images
His insight into how McLaren is going to prioritise their drivers going into the final races has sparked confusion.
With three sprint race victories up for grabs, an additional 24 points are to be awarded.
That’s nearly an entire race win and points that could swing the championship pendulum.
After the Singapore Grand Prix, multiple arguments started online about the perceived prioritisation of Norris during the race when the teammates came together on the opening lap and Piastri was made to hold position.
“That’s not fair. That’s not fair,” Piastri fumed over his radio to his race engineer.
“If he [Norris] has to avoid another car by crashing into his teammate, then that’s a pretty s–t job of avoiding.”
As the teammates squabbled for places, Verstappen easily sailed into second place and added another 18 points to the McLaren deficit.
Rumours have flown about the Australian driver jumping ship to other F1 teams, but paddock figures have argued that the 24-year-old should not move hastily as he has won two constructors’ championships with the team.
Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri stand on the podium during the Race of the Formula 1 PIRELLI Gran Premio d’Italia 2025. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Brown himself has also not had a restful gap between Singapore and the upcoming race in Texas.
Instead the team CEO has been locked in an intense legal battle with IndyCar champion Alex Palou.
Palou claimed the Brown lied to the Spaniard about his F1 opportunities and boldly argued that the 53-year-old told him that he did not chose Piastri for the team’s second seat in 2023.
For McLaren, their weekend in Texas will determine their ability to hold onto the drivers’ championship – something that has eluded their grasp to Verstappen in recent years.
The United States Grand Prix will begin this weekend on October 18.