Fernando Alonso says McLaren have changed after hearing Zak Brown’s comments on F1 title fight

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Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are the first McLaren teammates to battle for the drivers’ championship since Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in 2007. But the atmosphere at the team could not be more different.

Hamilton’s relationship with Alonso became toxic that year, and their feud may have contributed to Kimi Raikkonen snatching the title away. Ferrari driver Raikkonen prevailed by a single point as the McLaren duo finished level.

This year, Norris is a point clear of Piastri with four weekends remaining. The two drivers have crashed twice, but neither incident has led to a fallout.

Speaking this week, CEO Zak Brown said he’d rather McLaren lose the title to Max Verstappen, in a repeat of 2007, than compromise their racing principles by favouring one driver. His managerial philosophy has clearly resonated with both Norris and Piastri.

Fernando Alonso says ‘the situation is very different’ at McLaren compared to 2007

DAZN put these comments to Alonso in the media pen prior to the Brazilian Grand Prix. He said Brown’s approach differs completely from predecessor Ron Dennis.

In what was described as a slip of the tongue, Dennis said McLaren were racing ‘against Fernando’ at the Chinese GP, the penultimate round of the season.

This left Alonso convinced that the team wanted Hamilton, whose race ended in the gravel after an infamous error at the pit entry, to win the title.

He recalled: “I remember Ron saying in China, ‘Our race was against Fernando, not against Kimi.’ The situation is very different.”

‘Many voices’ claim McLaren are ‘protecting’ Lando Norris

There are some in the F1 paddock who think McLaren are favouring Norris, who, like Hamilton, is a product of their academy. The Briton has raced for the team since 2019, four years before Piastri joined.

“How does he [Piastri] feel in the team?” Brazilian journalist Lito Cavalcanti pondered on the latest episode of The Race F1 podcast. “There are many voices pointing to a protection from McLaren to Norris.”

Alonso clearly disagrees with this sentiment, and Andrea Stella insists there’s no ’emotional bias’. In fact, he regards the drivers as his ‘two sons’.

Alonso left McLaren at the end of 2007, while Stella and Brown are determined to keep their current pairing together. Both are under contract long-term.