(GMM) McLaren CEO Zak Brown (pictured with Andrea Stella) has pushed back on growing speculation that the team is favoring Lando Norris in the title fight at the expense of struggling teammate Oscar Piastri.<\/p>\n
Speaking on F1\u2019s Beyond the Grid podcast<\/a>, Brown dismissed the idea that one driver had been prioritized.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather have a driver overtake our drivers, who are tied on points, than have to tell one of them right now, \u2018I know you dream of winning the world championship, but we\u2019ve decided you\u2019re not going to get it this year. Forget it,’\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Referencing McLaren\u2019s own history, Brown said he would prefer a situation like 2007, when Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton warred internally until Kimi Raikkonen won the title for Ferrari.<\/p>\n Sky pundit Martin Brundle agreed, insisting the idea of favoritism \u201cmakes no sense\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI assure you, the team won\u2019t spend $400 million a year, hire 1,500 employees, and try to make one of the cars slightly slower,\u201d Brundle said. \u201cEveryone involved with Oscar\u2019s car will expect him to bounce back.<\/p>\n \u201cHis first half of the season was incredible \u2013 you don\u2019t just forget how to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Sky Deutschland\u2019s Peter Hardenacke claimed that tension is rising behind the scenes, hinting that Piastri and his manager Mark Webber could already be exploring options elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I saw Webber without his phone once all weekend,\u201d Hardenacke said, recalling the most recent grand prix in Mexico. \u201cI have a feeling he and Piastri are eyeing the driver market. It\u2019s a difficult situation.\u201d<\/p>\n F1 legend Gerhard Berger also defended Piastri, telling Corriere dello Sport: \u201cUps and downs happen.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you have two teammates of similar caliber, the pressure is on \u2013 and it would be the same for Verstappen if there were another Max.\u201d<\/p>\n