LAS VEGAS – The McLaren Components 1 Racing Crew entered the Las Vegas Grand Prix in first place within the Constructors’ Championship standings, hoping to win their first title since 1998.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have each confirmed to be formidable forces on the racetrack all through your entire season and maintain a slim lead over Ferrari and Pink Bull. A 1-2 end for the McLaren drivers will assist the staff get ever nearer to that title.
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McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia drives in the course of the closing apply session for the Components One Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in Las Vegas. (AP Photograph/John Locher, File)
Nonetheless, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown made clear on Thursday he takes it one step at a time. He spoke to the media as he touted the staff’s partnership with Mastercard.
“I feel we’ve a great likelihood,” he stated. “Ferrari would be the staff to beat this weekend. I feel we’ve bought a really robust race automobile with two superior racing drivers. It’s a little bit little bit of a house race for me – not essentially from Las Vegas, it’s my residence nation. So, for me, it feels a little bit bit extra particular.
“It’s a unbelievable venue, in fact. It’s our first race along with (the Mastercard) model on our race automobile. It’s very thrilling. Now we have an amazing quantity of assist, and we’re counting right down to race weekend. For me, if we will win this race or prolong our Constructors’ lead, it might be a profitable weekend.”
Norris can be driving in hopes of staying alive for a world championship. A win for Norris would preserve him alive within the title combat with Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen for no less than yet another race.
McLaren Components 1 CEO Zak Brown walks by means of the observe entrance earlier than the 2024 Components One US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 20, 2024. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Photographs)
MCLAREN’S ZAK BROWN, MASTERCARD’S RAJA RAJAMANNAR TOUT PARTNERSHIP AHEAD OF LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX
What can not occur is the same outcome as final yr’s Las Vegas race. Norris retired after two laps, and Piastri labored his method up from 18th to a Tenth-place end.
Brown stated he felt good about how the staff got here collectively this season and labored laborious to place them within the race for a title.
“I be ok with the place McLaren are in the meanwhile. I feel the women and men at McLaren have achieved an superior job in each facet of the racing staff. We’ve clearly developed an excellent race automobile,” Brown stated, touting each division from finance to human sources in ensuring everybody has stored their eye on the ball by means of the season, placing within the work and the hours to make the staff as profitable because it has been.
“I really feel nice the place we’re. It’s excessive stress as a result of we haven’t been right here (on this place to win a Constructors’ Championship) since 1998. Thirty-six factors within the lead can evaporate in a single race weekend. We bought Ferrari who might simply end first and second. Something can occur in a road race as we noticed in Brazil.”
McLaren Racing Chief Government Officer Zak Brown walks by means of the paddock space earlier than apply for the 2024 US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 18, 2024. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Photographs)
Brown stated, even with the followers who’ve come as much as him considering it’s a forgone conclusion that McLaren has received the Constructors’ Championship, he needed to clarify it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
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“I feel the minute you assume you’ve achieved it earlier than you’re ultimately zone is an enormous mistake to make. So, be ok with the place we’re, however we’ve very centered, and we’re not going to have a good time till, hopefully, we’ve the best to have a good time.”
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