Zak Brown issues Max Verstappen 'horror movie' comparison as F1 title fight ignites

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has likened Max Verstappen to “that guy in a horror movie” amid his late championship surge.

The Dutchman has enjoyed a strong run of form following the summer break, winning four out of the last seven grands prix.

Although considered an outside bet, Verstappen's chances of a fifth F1 title were handed a major boost after the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

It has left Verstappen just 24 points down on championship leader Norris with just two rounds remaining.

Brown issued praise to the 28-year-old and used an example of a horror movie villain when assessing Verstappen's danger.

“He’s like that guy in a horror movie,” Brown told the Sports Agents podcast. “Right as you think he's not coming back, he’s back.

“What an unbelievable talent he is. He never makes mistakes. He seizes every opportunity.”

Verstappen's gap to the head of the championship was over 100 points at the end of August when Oscar Piastri sealed victory at the Dutch Grand Prix.

But even with such a mammoth gap in place, Brown asserted McLaren never discounted Verstappen's threat in the standings.

“We’ve never thought he was out,” he said. “When we were at a 104-point lead on Max, people thought ‘this is a done deal’.

“We’ve never thought it was a done deal and here we are. This is sport. How many sports have we seen [this happen]?

“I don't know if you followed the World Series, that looked like it was over and until it wasn't.

“That’s why we don't get too upset about any one thing. It's just sport. You learn, you live, you go again. Worrying about Vegas today is not going to make us faster tomorrow.”