Zak Brown outlines McLaren ‘concern’ as Lando Norris targets his first F1 title

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McLaren CEO Zak Brown has outlined the Formula 1 team’s only real ‘concern’ ahead of the last six rounds of the 2024 season as Lando Norris targets his first drivers’ title.

This year could prove to be a fantastic campaign for the papaya squad with both titles within reach, potentially. McLaren have not won the constructors’ championship since in 1998 with Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard, but they currently lead Red Bull with 516 points to 475.

It has also been 16 years since Lewis Hamilton won his first drivers’ title whilst with McLaren in 2008 for their last success. Norris might bring the drought to a close this term, but the 24-year-old trails friend and rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 52 points with 279 playing 331.

Zak Brown believes McLaren’s only ‘concern’ for a title double is their normal race fears

Norris has emerged as a genuine title threat for three-time defending champion Verstappen thanks to McLaren developing arguably the best car in F1. Red Bull, meanwhile, have faced regular handling issues after redesigning the car which won 21 of the 22 Grand Prix in 2023.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Red Bull’s issues have meant Verstappen has not won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix. In the eight rounds since, Norris has won the Dutch Grand Prix and Singapore Grand Prix, while Oscar Piastri also gave McLaren wins at the Hungarian Grand Prix and Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Still, though, McLaren are not preparing for the United States Grand Prix expecting Norris or Piastri will win. But CEO Brown believes McLaren have zero major reason for concern except for the norm for the last six Grand Prix plus three F1 Sprint events if they are to do a double.

“None that worry us, beyond the general concern before each race weekend,” Brown noted, via quotes by Marca. “But I think that keeps us alert.”

Lando Norris may need Mercedes and Ferrari’s help to dethrone Max Verstappen

F1’s unofficial autumn break, with a four-week split between Norris’ dominant Singapore GP win and the United States GP, has given every team a chance to refine potentially their final upgrades of 2024. For one, Mercedes plan to unveil a substantial upgrade package in Austin.

McLaren will hope the likes of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari do not arrive at the Circuit of the Americas much closer on pace to them. Norris must lead the field at effectively each of the final six Grand Prix and three F1 Sprint events for a realistic chance of winning the title.

Verstappen can sit second to Norris in every remaining race and know that the 26-year-old’s fourth drivers’ title is on the way – even if the Briton were to also set the fastest lap in all of the final six Grand Prix. Norris is yet to win in back-to-back races or claim a single Sprint win.

The Bristol-born pilot has also left points on the table throughout 2024 with errors in China, Monaco, Canada, Spain, Austria, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy and Azerbaijan. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella does not think Norris’ poor starts have made much impact, however.