Zak Brown names 'impossible' McLaren challenge as major 'risk' taken

Zak Brown believes McLaren has proved in 2025 that is was able to pass the so-called "impossible" challenge of having two number one drivers in a team. 

Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are treated as equal number ones at Woking, with this in contrast to Red Bull having its sole focus on Max Verstappen. 

The singular number one driver in a team route has been well-versed with the likes of Ayrton Senna (McLaren), Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), and Verstappen, all enjoying unrivalled success as outright number ones, whilst Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes proved the perils of two such drivers in a team. 

However, as Norris and Piastri fought for the 2025 crown, there were no Hamilton-Rosberg-esque tactics, with both drivers following team orders when requested despite protests.

Reflecting on the approach, Brown detailed how some believed the line-up to be a "challenge" as he also explained the "risk" the team had taken on signing Norris in 2019, and Piastri in 2023, as rookies.

"Oscar is going to be a world champion, and I am convinced he is going to be a world champion in a McLaren," Brown told media, including RacingNews365. 

"While we got him a bit later in his career, we still took a risk on both our drivers. The first time they both drove a Formula 1 car was a McLaren, and for a big team to take a risk, if you like, on young drivers, is very rewarding. 

"To have two number ones against all the odds and noise we've had, that it's impossible to do what we did, which is to have two awesome racing drivers that won seven races each, that genuinely enjoy racing each other and are a treat to work with, and they've never had an odd exchange between them.

"They've both been a little bit grumpy with Andrea and I from time to time, but I think that's good, we're pushing each other hard."