AUSTIN — In the course of the FIA Press Convention on Thursday, McLaren driver Lando Norris declared that no matter how the season ends, it is going to be a 12 months for himself and McLaren to be happy with.
On Friday his boss echoed that sentiment.
Talking within the FIA Press Convention on Friday right here in Austin, McLaren CEO Zak Brown outlined that whether or not McLaren wins the F1 Constructors’ Championship or not — and whether or not Norris can catch Max Verstappen within the Drivers’ Championship or not — 2024 has been an “superior” 12 months for McLaren.
“An superior season,” acknowledged Brown when requested how he would view this season with regards to an in depth in Abu Dhabi. “We’ve received 5 races. 14 … 15 podiums in a row. So whatever the consequence, as a result of it is a troublesome sport and we have now superior opponents, I believe no matter the place we end in both or each championships, you gotta say all of the women and men at McLaren have carried out an excellent job to place 5 race wins and the quantity of podiums that we’ve had for each drivers collectively.
“So we’ll undoubtedly look again on this 12 months happy with what we’ve achieved.”
Brown was requested on a number of events concerning the group’s probabilities in each of these championships, and he pointed to the gifted F1 discipline as a motive he’s all the time wanting within the “rear-view mirror.”
“We’re clearly main within the Constructors’, so we have to proceed to take action. Crimson Bull isn’t far behind and I believe Ferrari, from judging them this morning, could be the quickest group. So I believe, you understand, we’re nervous about each of them,” outlined Brown.
“Then on the Drivers’ Championship, you understand, Max is an superior racing driver so his unhealthy days are typically a second or third place. And we’re gonna want Lando to win numerous races, and Max to have an unusually unhealthy day, worse than a second or third. As a result of I believe if Lando goes and wins every little thing and Max finishes second in all, I nonetheless don’t assume you get the job carried out.
“So, that one’s gonna be slightly bit more durable.
“A number of racing must go, and so we simply must maintain doing what we are able to to help [Lando] and hope that we are able to get one if not each.”
Brown described the temper round McLaren because the group heads into this pivotal closing stretch as “anxious to get again to the racetrack,” however famous that his message to the group is moderately easy.
Maintain doing what you might be doing.
“It’s maintain doing what you do, maintain doing what you’re doing. It’s working,” stated Brown when requested what his message to the group is down the stretch.
“So I believe there’s no motive to alter what received us to the place we’re then to do something totally different than what we’ve been doing and maintain our head down as a result of we acknowledge how shortly the game may change,” continued Brown.
In the meanwhile McLaren leads Crimson Bull by 41 factors within the Constructors’ Championship, and Norris trails Verstappen by 52 factors within the Drivers’ Championship. However with six Grands Prix remaining, and a trio of F1 Dash Races as properly, neither title is near being determined.
