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Zak Brown Defends ‘Hold Position’ Instruction to Oscar Piastri Amidst Tense Australian Grand Prix

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 16, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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McLaren CEO Teases Secret Innovations Amid Rival F1 Teams’ Radical Changes for 2025 Season

Formula One F1 - Pre Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 26, 2025 Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur shakes hands with McLaren chief executive Zak Brown during testing REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

The recent Australian Grand Prix saw an interesting interplay between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Piastri was hot on the heels of Norris, gradually narrowing the gap between them. However, the McLaren team ordered Piastri to maintain his position behind Norris, a directive that seemed to contradict their pre-race agreement that allowed the drivers to compete freely.

Piastri acknowledged the instruction, noting his superior speed compared to Norris. However, he dutifully stuck behind his teammate without initiating an offensive move as they navigated through slower cars. Piastri’s anticipated attack lost momentum when he made a mistake at a turn, forcing him to reduce speed to regain control of his vehicle. This error eerily mirrored a similar mistake by Fernando Alonso that led to the deployment of a Safety Car.

In a post-race interview with Sky F1, McLaren CEO Zak Brown addressed the subject of Piastri’s instruction to hold position. Brown dismissed speculations that the directive had disrupted Piastri’s rhythm. He clarified that the hold position order was a temporary measure to ensure safe passage through the slower vehicles. Brown and co-strategist Andrea had intended to give Piastri the green light to race once they were clear of the traffic.

Brown also expressed his sympathy for Piastri, whose race took a nosedive following the Safety Car deployment. Both McLaren drivers veered off track when they encountered a wet stretch at Albert Park. Norris managed to recover without losing his position, but Piastri was not as fortunate. He skidded into the grass and got stuck, although he managed to recover and finish ninth.

Despite the setback, Brown acknowledged Piastri’s brilliant performance and complimented the team’s effort in the exciting race. However, he cautioned against getting carried away, citing Verstappen’s winning streak at the start of the previous season that was followed by a drought. He encouraged the team to maintain their momentum.

Norris’s victory at the Australian Grand Prix saw him take the lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Brown praised Norris’s driving and the team’s impeccable strategy in the challenging weather conditions. He admitted that the unpredictable rain made it difficult to determine the best tyre option, but credited the team’s adaptability to changing circumstances.

In conclusion, despite the unexpected challenges and the controversial instruction to hold position, Piastri and the McLaren team demonstrated their resilience and strategic acumen at the Australian Grand Prix. The team’s performance underscores the importance of adaptability in the face of unforeseen circumstances, a trait that will serve them well in the upcoming races.

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