McLaren's Zak Brown slams 'shocking' team orders conspiracy theories

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has vehemently denied "shocking" and "uninformed" conspiracy theories that the team favored Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri during their intense 2025 title duel, insisting both drivers had equal opportunity. Brown expressed pride in the team's handling of the situation, which resulted in a Constructors' Championship and Norris's Drivers' title, despite the internal rivalry and external criticism.

Why it matters:

Accusations of team bias can severely damage a team's reputation and driver morale, especially during a tight championship fight. McLaren's public stance on maintaining fairness between its two top drivers is a crucial test of its operational integrity and sets a precedent for how it will manage future intra-team battles, which are likely to continue.

The details:

• The controversy peaked during the 2025 season when Piastri, after leading the championship by 34 points, saw momentum swing to Norris following team orders at the Italian GP and an on-track incident in Singapore.
• Brown labeled the resulting fan theories of a British bias toward Norris as "so far wide of the mark," attributing the season's twists to normal racing mistakes and hard competition.
• He highlighted the team's commitment to its "papaya rules," a framework for fair racing between teammates, which he says is similar to other teams' internal guidelines.
• Season Outcome: Despite the friction, McLaren secured the Constructors' title, Norris won the Drivers' Championship, and both drivers claimed seven race wins each, a result Brown cites as proof of their equitable approach.

What's next:

Brown anticipates another title fight between Norris and Piastri in 2026 and reaffirms that both will continue to receive equal treatment.

• Norris is motivated to defend his crown, while Brown believes Piastri, who made a significant leap in performance from 2024 to 2025, could be even more formidable if he makes further progress.
• The team expects its internal racing rules to remain a topic of discussion but plans no major changes to its philosophy of allowing its drivers to compete freely for championships.