F1 | Zak Brown explains why McLaren is not naming a lead driver despite Max Verstappen threat. McLaren CEO Zak Brown explained why the team refuses to appoint a number one and number two driver .

The 2025 Formula 1 title battle is heating up, and a new contender has joined the fight. Max Verstappen, after a quiet start to the season, has returned to form since the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Dutch driver now poses a serious threat to McLaren, yet the team continues to resist the idea of appointing a clear first and second driver to defend its lead in the championship.

In recent weeks, much of the discussion around the Woking-based team has focused on internal hierarchy. McLaren’s two drivers currently occupy first and second place in the standings. So far, the team has strictly followed what many call the “papaya rules,” which guarantee total equality between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, allowing both to fight freely on track.

However, as Max Verstappen closes the gap in the Drivers’ Championship, questions are being raised about whether this approach could ultimately backfire. Some fear that giving both drivers full freedom might allow Max Verstappen to capitalize on their in-team rivalry. Despite the mounting pressure, McLaren’s management remains convinced that this open strategy is the right path forward—an approach confirmed by team CEO Zak Brown, who discussed the topic after Sprint qualifying in Austin.

When asked whether the team would consider introducing a defined hierarchy between its drivers, Zak Brown clarified that McLaren prefers to take things one race at a time, without making long-term assumptions that could quickly prove wrong. “At the moment, Max is too close for comfort,” he admitted. “We’ve seen what happened in the Netherlands—how fast things can change. So we’re focused only on this weekend, trying to get both our drivers to finish first and second in the race, and we’ll keep evaluating it race by race.”

Brown also acknowledged that the team is fully aware of the Red Bull driver’s growing threat in the title battle. Still, he insisted that McLaren’s core philosophy remains unchanged. “If we get to a situation—and that’s what happened last year in Baku—where we start helping Lando, what ends up happening is that Oscar wins the race and Lando helps him. This is a very unpredictable sport. But in our current situation, we’ll continue giving both drivers equal opportunities to fight for the World Championship,” concluded the McLaren CEO.