Discuss of McLaren being favourites for the 2025 drivers’ and constructors’ titles “can be smug” says Zak Brown.
Whereas Purple Bull did a fairly good job of imploding this season, McLaren quietly bought on with the job of constructing on its 2023 turnaround, and as soon as the intense updates started showing in Miami, the Woking outfit quickly turned a significant pressure happening to with the constructors’ title for the primary time since 1998.
It was too late for Lando Norris to overtake Max Verstappen, who nearly single-handed saved Purple Bull within the recreation, however already there’s speak of McLaren claiming each titles in 2025.
“I believe favourites can be smug,” mentioned the McLaren boss, in line with RACER.
“I see no purpose why we will not be one of many favourites,” he added. “You have bought 4 groups which can be successful races regularly, so I do not see how one can put anyone as a favorite going into subsequent yr.
To Pete Prodromou’s credit score, he got here into this yr pondering we may win the world championship,” mentioned the American of the crew’s aero guru. “I wasn’t there… I am there now, that subsequent yr, we’ll try to win the Constructors’ and Drivers’ world championship.
“That is the mind-set of everybody else,” he continued, “however I do know there’s no less than three different groups, and perhaps a shock, however no less than three different groups that can have that very same mind-set, and I believe they’ve nearly as good an opportunity as anybody.”
In contrast to Purple Bull, McLaren had two drivers usually difficult for podiums and grabbing as many factors as attainable.
“Each race weekend, you watch Components 1’s greatest driver pairing, Lando and Oscar, get behind the wheel of the MCL38 and put in a shift for this crew,” mentioned the American. “Most of the time this yr, that is been on the entrance of the sector, with six wins, 21 podiums, and eight pole positions, together with a run of 14 consecutive podiums, the second-longest streak in our historical past.
“Our drivers have finished us proud,” he continued. “Lando pushed Max onerous within the drivers’ championship and is the primary driver to complete second for us since Jenson in 2011. And in solely his second season, Oscar has develop into the primary McLaren driver to complete as excessive as fourth for us since Lewis in 2012.
“On and off observe, each made large strides this yr, exhibiting they have what it takes to problem for the championship.”
After all, the pair’s starvation for fulfillment may properly work in opposition to the crew, for Piastri is a possible champion in his personal proper and is clearly unwilling to play a subservient Rubens Barrichello, Valtteri Bottas-type position to Norris as seemed to be the case for a lot of 2024.
