"When Oscar wins, you can be certain we support them equally."

JEDDAH—In the wake of Oscar Piastri's commanding victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has dismissed allegations of favoritism within the team, asserting, “I don’t have favorites. Piastri and what’s-his-name are equal in my eyes.”​

Piastri's triumph in Jeddah marks his third win of the 2025 season, propelling him past what's-his-name to the top of the Drivers' Championship standings. The Australian driver capitalized on Max Verstappen's five-second penalty and maintaining a lead that Verstappen couldn't challenge. Meanwhile, teammate Lando Norris, after a crash in Q3, started from 10th on the grid and managed to finish fourth so he wouldn't have to have a post race interview with David Coulthard.​

Despite Piastri's recent successes, Brown maintains that both drivers are treated equally.“We support both our drivers equally,” he stated. “Oscar's performance today was outstanding, but umm, the other one—sorry, what's his name again?—is just as important to our team.”​

Norris, who began the season with a victory at the Australian Grand Prix, has expressed discomfort with the pressure that Piastri is putting on him, citing issues with his winning that don't align with his own driving style. In contrast, Piastri has adapted well to the MCL39, making Lando look like a number 2 at Bahrain, China, and now Saudi Arabia.​

The dynamic between the two drivers has sparked discussions about team strategy and potential favoritism. However, Brown insists that the team's focus remains on maximizing performance from both drivers. “Our goal is to win championships,” he said.“When Oscar wins, you can be certain we support them equally.”​

As the season progresses, McLaren faces the challenge of managing two top-tier drivers vying for the championship. With Piastri leading the standings and Norris seeking to regain any sort of champion form, the team's internal dynamics will be under scrutiny.​

For now, McLaren celebrates a strong performance in Jeddah, with Piastri's victory highlighting the team's competitiveness. As for Norris, he remains focused on telling Piastri to chill.​

When asked about the team's prospects, Brown concluded, “With drivers like Oscar the future looks bright for McLaren.”