McLaren’s Lando Norris is unbothered by podium booing and in top form for the championship battle, with teammate Piastri also focused on the title.
LAS VEGAS: McLaren CEO Zak Brown says championship leader Lando Norris is completely unfazed by recent podium booing and in the best form of his career.
The British driver has won the last two races in Mexico and Brazil but faced audible boos from sections of the crowd during celebrations.
Brown revealed Norris would have been upset by such reactions in the past but now remains entirely focused on the championship battle.
“The booing would have bothered him in the past but he recognises that was as much probably booing for me and how we’re treating it,” Brown told Reuters.
“He’s in a great place. It’s not bothering him.”
Brown described Norris as “engaged, in the zone, totally focused but relaxed” alongside teammate Oscar Piastri.
The Australian driver sits 24 points behind Norris with three rounds remaining, including this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
“Oscar’s definitely fighting back,” Brown added. “I think one of his greatest strengths is he just gets in the zone.”
Speculation about the booing includes possible reactions from fans of Mexican driver Sergio Perez or perceptions of McLaren favouring Norris over Piastri.
Brown suggested some spectators might also be supporting underdogs like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc.
“I think it’s just the nature of the beast,” he said. “I’m getting more social media hate today having won two constructors’ titles than when we were 17th and 18th.”
The McLaren boss emphasized his team remains focused on racing principles despite external noise.
This weekend could potentially narrow the championship battle to just the two McLaren drivers if Verstappen falls further behind.
McLaren has already secured the constructors’ championship but aims for their first drivers’ title this century.
“My mindset isn’t ‘Max might be out of the picture’,” Brown explained. “My mindset’s a bit ‘if we don’t have a strong weekend, Max is right back in the game’.”
The American executive expressed hope for a papaya orange McLaren car securing the drivers’ championship.
“What we really want to do is not just win the drivers’ championship,” he concluded. “We want to finish first and second.” – Reuters
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