Zak Brown Apologizes for Blaming Rival After McLaren F1 Sprint Crash

McLaren CEO Zak Brown issued apologies to Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley and driver Nico Hulkenberg after initially blaming Hulkenberg for a Turn 1 crash in the Austin Formula 1 sprint race that took out both McLaren cars. Brown, who had called it 'amateur hour driving' from the front, retracted his comments after reviewing footage, admitting he had misjudged the incident in the heat of the moment.

Why it matters:

Zak Brown's swift retraction and apology highlight the intense pressure and immediate reactions in Formula 1, even from senior team figures. It also underscores the importance of objective post-race analysis over emotional, real-time judgments. The incident, which sidelined both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, prompted an internal McLaren review, demonstrating how teams scrutinize every on-track event involving their drivers, even when stewards rule it a racing incident.

The Details:

• Initial Blame: Immediately after the Austin sprint race's Turn 1 collision, Zak Brown told Sky Sports F1 that Nico Hulkenberg 'drove into Oscar and he had no business being where he was.'
• Incident Impact: The chain-reaction crash involved Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso, ultimately wiping out McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
• Retraction: After reviewing the incident footage, Brown publicly changed his view, stating, 'I can't really put that on Nico.'
• Apologies Issued: Brown personally apologized to Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley via text and directly to Nico Hulkenberg.
• Sauber's Reaction: Wheatley acknowledged the apology, stating he understood Brown's initial reaction was 'in the heat of the moment' given the passion of the sport and the sight of both cars being taken out.
• Racing Incident Consensus: Both Oscar Piastri and the race stewards concluded the Turn 1 pile-up was a racing incident, with no formal investigation deemed necessary.
  • Piastri commented that he was 'a long way away from the apex' but acknowledged he 'could have done something a bit different' even if it meant letting other cars pass.

Between the lines:

Brown's quick apology speaks volumes about maintaining good relations within the F1 paddock, despite fierce competition. His initial remarks, though emotional, could have strained relationships with a rival team. His professional retraction likely prevented any lasting animosity.

What's next:

McLaren plans to conduct an internal review of the contact between its two drivers, Piastri and Norris, which occurred during the Turn 1 incident. Team boss Andrea Stella emphasized delaying this review until after the Austin weekend to avoid distracting from race efforts. This internal analysis follows a similar review from the Singapore Grand Prix, where Norris was held responsible for a collision with Piastri and faced unspecified 'consequences' for the remainder of the season. The outcomes of such internal reviews are crucial for driver accountability and team strategy going forward.