McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown confirms No 1 driver declaration

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McLaren F1 boss confirms No 1 driver declaration

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have each won for the first time in F1 this season

Kevin McKenna

Friday 2 August 2024 10:58 Updated: 11:22

McLaren boss Zak Brown has discussed the ongoing battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for their No 1 driver spot.

The team have been this year's surprise package in Formula 1, emerging as serious challengers to Red Bull's throne with a series of impressive results.

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Both Norris and Piastri have achieved race victories in Miami and Hungary respectively, with the pair showing they are more than a match for the likes of defending champion Max Verstappen.

Despite the atmosphere within the team being incredibly positive given their recent upturn in results, there were hints of some tension brewing behind the scenes during Piastri's win in Budapest.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have impressed at McLaren this season

Piastri clinched his maiden F1 victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix

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The Australian produced a superb performance at the Hungaroring to establish a comfortable advantage over his team-mate, when McLaren decided to call him into the pits before his colleague, thus reversing their positions.

The decision was made under the assumption that Norris would hand the position back, but the 26-year-old instead chose to pull away at the front, prompting a number of emotional pleas being made by his team over the radio.

The drivers eventually swapped positions with two laps remaining, but the episode created unnecessary problems on what was a historic day for the British team.

The incident sparked debate over the duo's respective roles within the team, particularly given Norris is firmly in the hunt for the drivers' title.

Speaking to Sky Germany at last weekend's Belgian GP, Brown confirmed that discussions will take place over the summer break over how to ensure they can maximise their results, having been pressed on if he will decide a No 1 driver during the summer break.