Zak Brown fires back at Lando Norris "narrative" after four wins from five poles

McLaren CEO Zak Brown says the narrative around Lando Norris is outdated, citing the Briton’s recent winning form

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has argued that the narrative around his driver Lando Norris has changed during the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

With Norris fighting for the drivers' championship against his team-mate Oscar Piastri, the British driver has previously come under scrutiny for being publicly hard on himself. Some see this as a weakness. But after winning three of the last four grands prix, the McLaren chief is keen to change opinions on his driver.

“I think Lando's in a great place,” Brown said to RACER. “There was also a time Lando couldn't win from pole, according to the world, and he's won four of the last five races [he’s started] from pole. So I think this kind of narrative around Lando is not accurate today.

“He's open, kind of wears his emotions on his sleeve, so to speak. I think everyone's different, but I think he's in a great place. I've never seen him in a better place."

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took a surprise pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but Brown felt that Norris would have been more critical of himself in previous years.

“[In Budapest after qualifying] I think the Lando of a year ago maybe would have been more critical on himself," he added. "He's doing an awesome job. So, no, I think that is much like the he can't win from pole stat. Now that he's won four or five races from pole, no one seems to be talking about that.

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

“I think you guys should write about that. Because there's another stat out there from [Charles Leclerc], who I'm a big fan of, who's not won that many races from pole, and I don't think that's anything on him. I think that's [a reflection of] how awesome he is over a lap and maybe can carry a car over a lap that doesn't have the ultimate race pace.

“So that's not intended to be disparaging on him at all. I think he's a huge talent. But my point is kind of a good narrative, and then when that narrative goes away, no one kind of, it's almost like the retraction's always on the back page. And I think Lando's in a great place.”