Jack Brown has a simple message for McLaren as the title leaders head into the final round of F1
Austin – During the FIA press conference on Thursday, McLaren driver Lando Norris declared that no matter how the season ends, it will be a year to be proud of for him and McLaren.
His boss also reiterated the same thing on Friday.
Speaking at the FIA press conference on Friday here in Austin, McLaren CEO Jack Brown explained that whether or not McLaren wins the F1 Constructors’ Championship – and whether Norris can catch Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship – 2024 has been an “amazing” Is. The year for McLaren.
When Brown was asked how he would look back on the season when it concludes in Abu Dhabi, he said, “A great season.” “We have won five races. 14 … 15 podiums in a row. So regardless of the result, because it’s a tough sport and we have amazing competitors, I think regardless of where we finish in one or both of the championships, you have to say that all the men and women at McLaren have done well in five races. Did an excellent job of participating. The amount of wins and podiums that we had for both drivers together.
“So we’re certainly proud of what we’ve achieved this year.”
Brown was asked on several occasions about the team’s chances in both of those championships, and he pointed to the talented F1 field as something he always sees in the “rear-view mirror”.
“We are clearly the leader among constructors, so we have to continue to do so. Red Bull is not far behind and I think Ferrari, after assessing them this morning, could be the fastest team. So I think, you know, we’re concerned about both of those,” Brown underlined.
“Then in the Drivers’ Championship, you know, Max is an amazing racing driver so his bad days are finishing second or third. And we’ll need Lando to win a lot of races, and Max to have an unusually bad day, worse than second or third. Because I think even if Lando wins everything and Max comes in second place, I don’t think you’ll be able to get the job done.
“So, it will be a little difficult.
“There’s a lot of racing needed, and so we just have to keep doing everything we can to support (Lando) and hopefully we can get one, if not both.”
Brown described the mood around McLaren as the team heads into this crucial closing phase as “keen to get back on the racetrack”, but he said his message to the team is quite simple.
Keep doing what you are doing.
“It’s just keep doing what you’re doing, keep doing what you’re doing. It’s working,” Brown said when asked what his message was to the team.
Brown continued, “So I think there’s no reason to change what got us here, then we can do anything different from what we’re doing and keep our heads down because We recognize how quickly the game can change.”
Currently, McLaren leads Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship by 41 points, and Norris trails Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship by 52 points. But with six grands prix remaining, as well as a trio of F1 sprint races, no title is close to being decided.