Zak Brown Blasts 'Amateur Hour' Driving After McLaren Double DNF in US GP Sprint

McLaren CEO Zak Brown heavily criticized Nico Hulkenberg's driving, labeling it "amateur hour," after both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were forced out of the United States Grand Prix Sprint due to a first-lap collision. The incident saw Piastri, after contact with Hulkenberg, crash into his teammate Norris, eliminating both McLaren cars.

Why it matters:

• The double DNF for McLaren in the Sprint race is a significant setback for the team, particularly given their strong starting positions and recent competitive form.
• Such incidents highlight the intense pressure and tight margins at the start of F1 races, where even experienced drivers can make costly errors.
• The strong reaction from Zak Brown and Andrea Stella underscores the frustration of losing both cars due to what they perceive as avoidable contact.

The Details:

• The incident occurred at Turn 1 of the United States GP Sprint, where Max Verstappen started from pole, with Norris second and Piastri third.
• Piastri attempted to go around the outside of Norris but then tucked in, looking for an inside line. However, Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg occupied that space.
• Contact between Piastri and Hulkenberg sent Piastri into Norris, resulting in both McLarens retiring from the race. Norris immediately retired, while Piastri soon followed due to suspension damage.
• Zak Brown's immediate reaction to Sky F1: "That was terrible. Neither of our drivers to blame there. Some amateur hour driving, some drivers up there at the front, wiped our two guys." He later clarified, "clearly Nico drove into Oscar, and he had no business being where he was. He went into his left rear tyre."
• McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella's comments: Stella echoed Brown's disappointment, stating it was "surprising that some drivers with a lot of experience, don’t act with just more prudence." He emphasized the need for drivers to "go through the first corner, make sure you don’t damage competitors, and then carry on." Hulkenberg has 244 Grand Prix starts.
• Initial assessments suggest the damage to both McLaren cars was primarily suspension-related, which the team hoped would be relatively easy to fix ahead of qualifying.

What's next:

• McLaren's immediate focus will be on repairing both cars quickly for the upcoming qualifying session and the main Grand Prix. Despite the setback, the team believes they are in a strong competitive position.
• The incident will likely be reviewed by race stewards, though no immediate penalties were mentioned in the reports.
• The team will aim to capitalize on their strong performance potential in the rest of the weekend, hoping to avoid further incidents and secure valuable points.