McLaren driver Lando Norris leads the F1 world championship by a single point ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri. The pair head to Brazil with changeable conditions on the cards, ready to fight for the win. However, both drivers need to be wary of Max Verstappen, who is only 36 points off the summit.
With the threat of Verstappen worrying McLaren, the Woking-based team will not back a single driver. They are happy to let the pair race it out until the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. But will they live to regret this decision?
Zak Brown says McLaren won’t favour a driver despite Max Verstappen’s presence
McLaren CEO Zak Brown says the team won’t favour either of their drivers, despite Max Verstappen clawing himself back into the championship fight. Back in 2007, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were fighting hard for the title, and let Kimi Raikkonen slip in and steal it, with the duo tied on points.
Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Brown said he would rather a repeat of the 2007 championship than favour a driver. The American said, “We’re well aware of 2007. Two drivers tied on points, one gets in front. But we’ve got two drivers who want to win the world championship.
Zak Brown has revealed McLaren would rather lose the Drivers’ Championship to Max Verstappen than favour one of their drivers 👀 pic.twitter.com/AYChFZ3FDn
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) November 6, 2025
We’re playing offence, we’re not playing defence. I’d rather go ‘We did the best we could with our drivers tied on points, and the other beat us by one’ than the alternative – telling one of our drivers when they’re one point apart ‘I know you have a dream to win a world championship, but we flipped a coin and you don’t get to do it this year.’ Forget it!
“That’s not how we go racing. If 2007 happens again, I’d rather have that outcome than any other that involves playing favourites. We won’t do it.”
Verstappen is still a long way off, but with two sprint races and four grand prix, he can’t be counted out just yet. Of the three title protagonists, the Dutchman is arguably in better form over the last few races. However, he needs a win in Interlagos to be realistically still in the title conversation.
Is the 2024 Brazilian GP an indication of what is to come?
The title fight is heating up with just four rounds remaining, and 36 points covering the top 3. Last year saw a race with changeable conditions — mainly wet — and a masterclass from Verstappen. The four-time world champion came through from P17 to dominate the race, while Norris crossed the line sixth after starting from pole position.
Neither McLaren had the pace in the wet, and while the MCL39 is a better car, other teams have caught up. On the other hand, it is unlikely that Verstappen will show as much of a dominating performance as he did last year. The Dutchman needs to beat both rivals in Brazil, or a fifth consecutive title looks beyond him.
Lando Norris Braces for Battles as Max Verstappen Emerges as True Challenger
However, this year, rain looks to play a part in Interlagos once more. The weather is unpredictable in the area and could cause havoc on the track. These are conditions Verstappen thrives in. Norris will also want to put the misery of last year behind him, while Piastri will want to put an end to his slump in form.
After Brown’s comment, the McLaren drivers are free to race each other. However, they must ensure that while battling among themselves, they don’t let Max sneak through. There are many twists and turns yet to play out, and the Brazilian GP could thrillingly start the final push.
