Zak Brown’s Oscar Piastri interaction on the F1 grid suggests their relationship has been ‘damaged’

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McLaren might have to win over Oscar Piastri and his camp after some difficult-to-take decisions have been made across the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Oscar Piastri led the drivers’ championship by 34 points over Lando Norris after winning the Dutch Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen was 104 points back at this stage of the campaign, and it’s understandable why team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown didn’t feel the need to throw their full support behind the Australian.

What’s happened since Piastri’s win at Zandvoort is scarcely believable, with Verstappen now level on points with McLaren’s number 81 and only 24 points behind Norris.

Much has been made of how Piastri made way for Norris at the Italian Grand Prix, creating a six-point swing in the process.

McLaren then only discussed ‘repercussions’ for Norris after hitting Piastri in Singapore once the race was over and the damage to the Australian’s points tally was done.

Now, journalist Peter Hardenacke has reported what he saw on the grid at the Las Vegas Grand Prix that suggests Brown has a very different relationship with each of his drivers.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Zak Brown’s ‘really intense’ Lando Norris chat in Las Vegas highlights ‘damaged’ Oscar Piastri relationship

Hardenacke was speaking about what he witnessed in Las Vegas on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast.

He said: “That was really interesting to see, wasn’t it?

“Always with caution, of course, so as not to read too much into it, but we were right at the front at the very beginning with Lando’s car, Zak Brown and the two of them really talked a lot.

“Zak and Lando, there was a really intense exchange, and then later we were also at Piastri’s car when Zak Brown came by, and there really wasn’t much to see there anymore.

“There was hardly any conversation, just handshakes, and Webber also stopped by briefly, but he didn’t give us an interview either.

“But even there, you can sense that it’s different with Zak and Lando and, in this case, Zak with Oscar Piastri.

“Of course, it’s just a snapshot, but I think something has been damaged along the way.”

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

Oscar Piastri must utilise his past Qatar Grand Prix experience to keep his championship hopes alive

Brown suggested that Piastri and Norris’ title battle won’t end in tears back in May, which he may live to regret if Verstappen completes the ultimate comeback in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Stella has insisted that neither driver will be preferred in Qatar, giving Piastri one last chance to put a dent in Norris’ lead before the season finale.

Piastri has a great record in Qatar, winning the Sprint Race in 2023 before securing what was the best result in his Formula 1 career in the Grand Prix.

He finished third last season, but will know he needs to secure his eighth victory of the year to give himself a chance of becoming world champion this year.

Speaking in his official pre-race media session, the 24-year-old said: “This is one of my favourite circuits on the calendar, and I have great memories around this track, especially my first win in F1 in the 2023 Sprint.

“It’s fast and flowing, has lots of medium and high-speed sections and is good for overtaking. I’m looking forward to both races and the chance to get on the front foot.”