Zak Brown confident about the strategy of the two number one drivers

McLaren manager Zak Brown expressed his confidence in his team's ability to manage two number one drivers. Despite previous episodes in Hungary where the situation created conflict, Zak Brown believes in the team's harmony.

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In a large number of Formula 1 teams, there is a concept known as the number one driver. As the name suggests, the number one driver is the most important driver in the team. This is the driver who always receives the latest technologies or for whom the second driver sacrifices in the championship. In an exclusive interview with Autosport, McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, stated that his team does not have a single number one driver, but rather two. He wants to avoid rivalry between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

McLaren will not repeat the past.

Rivalries in sports can sometimes be a driving force that pushes drivers to excel. While rivalries usually arise between two drivers in different teams, it is not uncommon for those within the same team to also be driven by competition. Throughout Formula 1 history, this has often been the case.

Among one of the rivalries that has made headlines in the past, the one between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton has left its mark. Both were part of the McLaren team in 2007, where they narrowly missed out on the world championship title. With several notable incidents where the drivers each refused to follow team orders, McLaren was clear about its intentions. This time, the situation from 2007 should and will not be repeated. On the contrary, Zak Brown seems to have full confidence in his team to handle the issue. And this involves a unique strategy: not designating a first or second driver.

« Relationships, communication, and the two individuals we have. I mean, make no mistake about it. They both want to be number one, and they are both number one. “» entrusted the team president. « We simply don’t have a number two. But they are running for the team. These are individuals who, in my opinion, can fight hard while each thinking they are number one, while respecting the fact that we have two number one cars. And it will always be like this.”

A promising start to their relationship

So far, McLaren, well above the other teams on the grid, has managed to maintain a certain stability. The relationship between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri seems safe for now. However, tensions in Hungary this year were difficult to overlook. Oscar Piastri had been overtaken by his teammate while leading the race for most of the time. Due to a very controversial strategy, it was Lando Norris who had taken the lead back, only to be forced to give way to the Australian in the end.

What could have ended in disaster ended with a conciliatory British driver. Lando Norris gave up his position to his teammate and allowed him to secure his first Formula 1 victory. In his interview, Zak Brown emphasized the professionalism displayed by the two drivers. “They know it, they appreciate it, and they respect our decisions when we must sometimes make concessions. They are very respectful of that,” Zak Brown stated.

The McLaren president therefore appears confident about the mutual respect that the drivers have for each other. However, Zak Brown acknowledged that as the championship progresses, there might come a time when the team will have to favor one driver over the other. « Obviously, if you are progressing in the championship and one driver has more chances than another, then you could start considering doing things strategically differently,” he admitted. « Andrea and I, and everyone here, we are competitors. We are fair, we are quite aggressive in our quest for performance. But in a fair way, not at all costs,” he concluded.

As McLaren continues its quest for victories in 2024, the paddock will continue to observe the approach proposed by McLaren and whether it is sufficient in the long term. If the initiative is a success for now, the balance within the team could eventually be disrupted.

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