McLaren emerge as frontrunners to finish Purple Bull’s reign as F1 constructors’ champions. McLaren and Ferrari have positioned themselves because the groups concerned within the battle to dethrone Purple Bull and safe the 2024 System 1 constructors’ championship. Purple Bull, dominant in securing the final two titles, now discover themselves in an unfamiliar place as underdogs heading into the brand new System 1 season.
Because the paddock arrives in Qatar for this weekend’s Grand Prix, McLaren holds a 24-point benefit over Ferrari on the high of the standings. Nevertheless, their lead narrowed barely following a difficult race in Las Vegas, the place Lando Norris completed sixth and Oscar Piastri crossed the road in seventh.
Purple Bull’s struggles had been much more pronounced, as Max Verstappen’s fifth-place end and Sergio Perez’s tenth yielded simply 11 factors for the staff, leaving them 53 factors adrift of McLaren. Whereas it stays doable for one of many main groups to undergo a low-scoring weekend within the remaining rounds, Purple Bull’s current type suggests this is probably not sufficient to show the tide of their favor.
Perez’s performances have been a key concern, because the Mexican driver has managed only one top-six end because the Miami Grand Prix in Might. As an illustration, even when the Dutchman had been to safe victory and Sergio Perez positioned no greater than seventh, rival groups reaching second and third positions would nonetheless outscore them.
Regardless of their present challenges, Purple Bull celebrated a major milestone in Las Vegas, clinching their eighth drivers’ championship in 20 seasons. Throughout their 391 races, the staff has amassed a powerful document of 121 wins, 103 pole positions, and 280 podium finishes.
Zak Brown praises Ferrari as McLaren’s key rival
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown shared his admiration for Ferrari, suggesting he holds the legendary staff in greater regard than Purple Bull. Talking on the *Enterprise of Sport* podcast, Brown highlighted the status of Ferrari and McLaren, two of the game’s most iconic names, as this season’s major title contenders.
Ferrari stays the one staff to have competed in over 1000 Grands Prix and leads in all-time statistics, together with 31 mixed championships and 248 wins. The Scuderia goals to finish its title drought, which dates again to 2008.
McLaren, in the meantime, hasn’t secured a constructors’ championship because the late Nineteen Nineties. In current historical past, Mercedes dominated from 2014 to 2021, with Purple Bull reclaiming the highest spot within the subsequent years.
Regardless of their intense rivalry on monitor, McLaren and Ferrari have maintained a respectful relationship this season. Zak Brown himself playfully joined in on the celebrations after former McLaren driver Carlos Sainz’s victory on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, cheekily “photobombing” Ferrari’s staff picture within the pit lane.
“Which rival staff do you respect most?” he was quizzed in a quickfire query spherical – “Ferrari,” was his one-word reply – the McLaren chief govt officer replied.
Zak Brown’s ongoing feud with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko fuels McLaren-Purple Bull rivalry
Zak Brown’s determination to not single out Purple Bull for reward comes as little shock, given his historical past of verbal clashes with key figures on the Milton Keynes-based staff. The stress between McLaren and Purple Bull reached new heights after the Austrian Grand Prix, the place Max Verstappen collided with Lando Norris within the closing levels of the race.
Zak Brown was vocal in his criticism of Christian Horner, calling out the Purple Bull staff boss for what he described as “inappropriate” post-race radio feedback that shifted the blame onto Norris. The McLaren CEO additionally took intention at Purple Bull’s dealing with of their 2021 value cap breach, accusing them of disrespecting their rivals with their justifications.
One other chapter on this escalating rivalry unfolded in October, when Zak Brown publicly rebuked Helmut Marko for remarks he interpreted as a slight on Lando Norris’s psychological fortitude. Helmut Marko, in flip, accused Brown of misrepresenting his feedback to fire up “unrest” throughout the paddock.
The friction hasn’t been restricted to verbal exchanges. Technical disputes have additionally fueled the animosity, most notably when McLaren was compelled to regulate their rear wing design following protests from Purple Bull’s camp. With the 2025 System One season set to proceed underneath largely steady rules, these tensions are more likely to persist, making certain that the McLaren-Purple Bull rivalry stays as intense off the monitor as it’s on it.
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