Brown preparing ‘quick shift’ if McLaren suffers extraordinary title defeat

Zak Brown insists McLaren will “quickly shift” to recognising its accomplishment even if it suffers an extraordinary title defeat in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start season-finale one-two on the grid, with McLaren knowing that if it is not out-scored by Ferrari by at least 21 points, it will seal its first constructors’ crown since 1998.

Ferrari’s challenge has been hamstrung by Charles Leclerc’s grid penalty leaving him at the back of the grid, with Carlos Sainz lining up third behind both McLarens. 

When asked what the feelings would be if McLaren were to suffer a collapse on the scale to hand Ferrari the title, Brown was calm, and hinted that the accomplishment of being in such a position would be highlighted.

“Absolutely, so what we’re trying to do this weekend is not race differently, not think about the championship,” Brown told select media including RacingNews365 when asked if a title defeat would be soul-crushing. 

“I’m not going to be calculating the championship ‘he is in that position, he is in that position’. 

“I’d be lying if I said it was not pretty stressful, but the team is relaxed and I’ve spoken a lot to other athletes in this situation like [National Hockey League champion] Mark Messier who won on game seven or Michael Strand [who won Super Bowl]. 

“They were all like if you are not nervous, you are lying, so of course there is adrenaline and nervousness, and of course, I will be massively disappointed to not win it.

“But if that happens, we need to shift quickly to look at what we’ve done this year and where we’ve come from.”

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Brown on McLaren’s title

2024 has been McLaren’s best season since 2012, with the team rising from also rans under the start of Brown’s tenureship to championship-challengers. 

Even at the start of last season, the team were backmarkers, something Brown highlighted.

“We’ve come from the brink of insolvency to five race wins, second most amount of consecutive podiums in McLaren’s history, gone down to the last race against Ferrari and beaten Red Bull and Mercedes,” he added.

“So if you asked me at the beginning of 2023, you would finish second in the championship with five race wins, 14 podiums in a row, I’d want to beat your hand off.”