{"id":222883,"date":"2025-10-18T19:16:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T19:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/222883\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T19:16:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T19:16:09","slug":"zak-brown-launches-scathing-attack-on-amateur-f1-rivals-after-mclaren-sprint-disaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/222883\/","title":{"rendered":"Zak Brown Launches Scathing Attack On “Amateur” F1 Rivals After McLaren Sprint Disaster"},"content":{"rendered":"

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has hit out at Formula 1<\/a> rivals for “amateur hour driving” that left both of his drivers out of the United States Grand Prix sprint.<\/p>\n

The battle for the drivers’ title took another twist at the Circuit of the Americas as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were part of a first corner melee in the 19-lap event.<\/p>\n

With Max Verstappen dominating from the front to secure eight points, the gap between the Red Bull driver has shortened for the fourth time in succession, having finished ahead of the Papaya duo in each grand prix and sprint since the Dutch Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

\"COTA<\/p>\n

Getty Images \/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n

Demolition derby<\/p>\n

Four-time champion Verstappen got the best start off the line and was unchallenged into Turn 1, but Piastri had drawn alongside his teammate on the rise to the apex.<\/p>\n

Norris was on the inside and went deep into the braking zone, with Piastri attempting to chop back to the inside to get by. But with Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber defending from Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin at the same time, three cars fought for one part of the track and sent the Australian onto two wheels.<\/p>\n

From there, he was powerless to avoid cannoning into Norris, leaving both McLarens with extensive damage and out of the sprint, as was Alonso.<\/p>\n

Giving his reaction to Sky Sports UK during the event, Brown launched into a scathing attack on Hulkenberg and Alonso. \u201cThat was terrible,” he said.<\/p>\n

LAP 2\/19<\/p>\n

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have both parked up at the side of the track, retiring from the Sprint \ud83d\ude22#F1Sprint<\/a> #USGP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/QNOJSmqkFe<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cNeither of our drivers were to blame there. Some amateur hour driving out there by some drivers. I want to see the replay again, but clearly Nico drove into Oscar and he had no business being where he was, he went into his left rear tyre.”<\/p>\n

Adding his perspective to the incident, Piastri added: \u201cI\u2019ve not seen the incident from the TV cameras, but, obviously I had a pretty good start, and we both went pretty deep into Turn 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to cut back and got hit. Obviously not a great way to start the day, but I need to have another look.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crash comes as the team’s handling of contact between its two drivers at the Singapore Grand Prix has been under the spotlight since confirmation of “repurcussions” for Norris had been made public.<\/p>\n

McLaren’s mechanics now face a race against time to get both cars back and make sure they are in a state to be sent out for qualifying later this afternoon.<\/p>\n

The Latest F1 News<\/p>\n