Speak of McLaren being favourites for the 2025 drivers’ and constructors’ titles “can be boastful” says Zak Brown.
Whereas Purple Bull did a fairly good job of imploding this season, McLaren quietly acquired 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 may be speak of McLaren claiming each titles in 2025.
“I believe favourites can be boastful,” stated the McLaren boss, in line with RACER.
“I see no purpose why we will not be one of many favourites,” he added. “You’ve got acquired 4 groups which are successful races frequently, so I do not see how one can put anyone as a favorite going into subsequent 12 months.
To Pete Prodromou’s credit score, he got here into this 12 months considering we may win the world championship,” stated the American of the group’s aero guru. “I wasn’t there… I am there now, that subsequent 12 months, we will 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 at the very least three different groups, and possibly a shock, however at the very least three different groups that may have that very same mind-set, and I believe they’ve pretty much as good an opportunity as anybody.”
Not like Purple Bull, McLaren had two drivers repeatedly difficult for podiums and grabbing as many factors as doable.
“Each race weekend, you watch System 1’s greatest driver pairing, Lando and Oscar, get behind the wheel of the MCL38 and put in a shift for this group,” stated the American. “Most of the time this 12 months, that is been on the entrance of the sphere, 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 laborious 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 turn out to be 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 12 months, exhibiting they have what it takes to problem for the championship.”
In fact, the pair’s starvation for achievement may effectively work in opposition to the group, 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 gave the impression to be the case for a lot of 2024.
