McLaren F1 chief confirms No 1 driver stance in epic title fight

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has issued an open letter during F1's summer break over the treatment of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

The papaya F1 squad have faced frequent criticism over their handling of having the most competitive driver line-up on the grid for the past couple of seasons, and now, Brown has taken a definitive stance on the issue.

Earlier this season, 2016 champion and Sky F1 pundit Nico Rosberg warned McLaren that if they continued to adopt their attitude of 'fair racing' without picking a No 1 driver, it would end in a clash on track.

At this year's Canadian Grand Prix, Rosberg's prediction came true when Norris appeared so desperate to get the upper hand over Piastri that he simply drove straight into the back of his team-mate, earning his first DNF of the year.

Now, in an open letter to fans, Brown has addressed McLaren's racing ethos, saying: "When it comes to fighting for a world title between team-mates, everyone has a different perspective - and some people can be critical - so it’s important for me to clarify a few things. Firstly, I’ve said it before, but I truly believe we have the best driver line-up in Formula 1, and I wouldn’t trade it for any other.

"Secondly, when you have two drivers going head-to-head for the world championship, there’s naturally a lot of excitement - and we share that excitement. There’s nothing we like more than watching these guys battle it out. So may the best man win."

Brown 'not naive' about McLaren F1 driver decision

In his statement to papaya fans, Brown stood by McLaren's approach to letting their F1 stars battle it out for their first drivers' title, yet did admit that he was 'not naive' to the consequences of such an attitude.

"Of course, we recognise that incidents have happened and will happen again. It’s all about how well you’re prepared for those moments and how you deal with them."

Touching on Norris' costly mistake in Canada and how the team will approach driver favourability in the title battle , Brown added: "I think Montreal was a shining example of how well everyone handled the situation. We know the risk of not throwing our weight behind one driver, but we will give Oscar and Lando equal opportunity to fight it out on track to win the drivers’ world championship.

"That’s exciting for us, and for the sport. We believe the benefits of racing this way far outweigh the consequences - despite the fact we know incidents can happen. I’m not naive. The adrenaline and pressure will rise, but the team will continue to work in harmony and manage the situations as they come. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic end to the year. I can’t wait to get back on track once the summer shutdown is over."

After 14 rounds of the 2025 campaign, Piastri has held on to his lead in the drivers' championship, but after team-mate Norris earned another victory at the Hungarian GP last time out, the gap between the pair has been slashed to just nine points.

Brown's F1 squad have the privilege of allowing their stellar driver duo to race fairly thanks to dominating the constructors' standings so far in 2025, having run away with the title after earning 559 points already.

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