Formula One is just a day away from one of its most dramatic season finales in years, with a three-way title battle set to unfold at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. But while fans are bracing for a nerve-wracking weekend, McLaren CEO Zak Brown appeared remarkably calm on Friday night.
Speaking to Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net), Brown acknowledged that securing pole position will be “critically important” for McLaren, given the limited overtaking opportunities at Yas Marina. With Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen separated by narrow margins, Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points and Piastri by 16, qualifying could very well decide the championship.
“Front-Row Lockout Is the Plan”
None of these tracks are easy to pass on.
But yes, qualifying is critically important. Lando took pole last year in Abu Dhabi, Oscar was second. They were tangled with Max, which was unfortunate. Hopefully we can repeat. A front-row lockout is the plan.
McLaren arrive at the finale with arguably the fastest car, but missteps over the last two races, including both cars being disqualified and a bungled pit strategy in Qatar, have allowed Verstappen to claw back ground. The pressure to convert raw pace into track position is now immense.
If you can lock the front row and not allow Max through, that would be ideal.
Brown Defends Team After Strategic Errors
The team has spent the last fortnight defending its operational decisions. Yet Brown insisted the narrative of strategic collapse is unfair.
Last weekend we made a mistake. These things happen,” he said. “This season had 24 races, all with equal points. I’ve yet to see a sports team be perfect; it so happened we made ours last week.
He added that the only instruction he has given the strategy group is to stay level-headed.
“Just learn from your mistakes. Don’t make the same one twice,” he said. “We’ll be ready for every scenario, but the reaction in the chaos of a title decider is hard to assure. It’s out of our control to a certain extent. We can only react to what happens in the race.”
In early practice on Friday, Verstappen appeared to struggle with car issues, a welcome sign for McLaren.
McLaren’s Future Plans Also in Motion
Even amid the title tension, Brown is juggling long-term plans. Fresh off receiving a TIME100 Impact Award for his role in McLaren’s resurgence, he confirmed that McLaren’s 2026 Formula One car will be auctioned through Sotheby’s. The winning bidder will be able to choose between Norris’s or Piastri’s chassis.
The experience, he said, will be “delivered to wherever the lucky bidder is,” and could become priceless if McLaren win in 2026.
Eyes on a Constructors’ and Drivers’ Crown
Rule changes for next year mean “everyone will start with a clean sheet of paper,” Brown cautioned. But for now, McLaren are focused on celebrating their 10th constructors’ title — and potentially a 13th drivers’ championship, their first since 2008.
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