Zak Brown Calls Claims He Opposed Oscar Piastri Signing ‘Ludicrous’
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has hit back at claims he was against signing Oscar Piastri as a rookie driver, calling the suggestion «ludicrous» and entirely untrue.
At a London court hearing last week, Alex Palou, the Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time IndyCar champion, alleged that Brown told him in late 2022 the decision to hire Piastri had not been his own.
Speaking to Reuters ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Texas, where Piastri is defending a 22-point championship lead over teammate Lando Norris, Brown dismissed the accusation.
«I’m not sure which allegation amused me more — the idea that I wasn’t responsible for key driver decisions or that I didn’t support signing the hugely talented Oscar Piastri,» Brown said. «Both are clearly ludicrous, and anyone who follows Formula One will see straight through them.»
Palou’s Comments Stir Controversy
Palou, who had hoped to join McLaren’s F1 team, told the court that Zak Brown said the decision to hire Piastri was made by Andreas Seidl, McLaren’s former team principal who left in December 2022.
«Zak told me Oscar’s performance would be evaluated against mine for the 2024 seat,» Palou testified.
Seidl previously led Porsche’s endurance team, where one of the drivers was Mark Webber, Piastri’s manager and fellow Australian.
Brown, who joined McLaren in 2016 and became CEO in 2018, has full oversight of the team’s operations and driver line-up. His authority has rarely been questioned within the organisation.
Palou’s comments caused a stir in Australia, where fans fear McLaren might favour British driver Norris as the title race intensifies. With six races and three sprints remaining, the battle between the two drivers has become one of the sport’s key storylines.
Piastri Chasing Historic Title
After securing the constructors’ championship, McLaren now shifts focus to the drivers’ title, with Piastri seeking to become Australia’s first Formula One world champion since Alan Jones in 1980.
The Australian joined McLaren in 2023 after a contract dispute with Renault-owned Alpine, where he had served as a reserve driver — a saga that featured in Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
Brown said he spoke with Piastri last weekend about the allegations.
«Oscar laughed at the idea that I might not have a say in hiring decisions,» he said. «We have the best driver pairing on the grid with Oscar and Lando. I couldn’t be more thrilled with their performance and sportsmanship.»
Legal Dispute with Palou Continues
McLaren is currently pursuing $20 mln in damages from Palou after he withdrew from a planned move to the F1 team and remained with Chip Ganassi Racing in IndyCar.
Palou has admitted breaching the contract but insists he owes McLaren nothing. The case is expected to continue until November.
From news to politics, travel to sports, culture to climate — Kursiv Uzbekistan highlights the pulse of life across Central Asia and beyond. Discover the stories you want to read, and more, by clicking below.
