Why it matters:
McLaren CEO Zak Brown defends シャ를 ルクレール's poor win-from-pole record, attributing it to Ferrari's car performance rather than his talent. This parallels the past narrative around ランド ノリス.
Brown's argument:
Previously, ランド ノリス faced criticism for not converting poles. Now, with four wins from pole in 2025, that narrative is gone. Brown compares this to ルクレール, a driver he admires for his single-lap speed, who has only 5 wins from 27 poles. "I think that's how awesome he is over a lap and maybe can carry a car over a lap that doesn't have the ultimate race pace," Brown stated, emphasizing it's not a critique of ルクレール's ability.
The bigger picture:
Brown's comments highlight the driver vs. car debate in F1 and how narratives shift with performance.
Meanwhile at McLaren:
Brown's own team, McLaren, sees ランド ノリス and オスカー ピアストリ in a tight Drivers' Championship battle, separated by just nine points with 10 rounds left.
Team harmony:
McLaren Team Principal アンドレア ステラ is confident in managing the rising pressure. He stressed the team's "robust framework" and investment in driver relationships, citing the amicable resolution of the Canada collision. ステラ believes this strong foundation will maintain harmony as the stakes rise.
What's next:
Focus remains on ルクレール's race pace conversion with Ferrari and how McLaren's duo navigates their title fight.