McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has likened Red Bull's Max Verstappen to a horror movie villain as he admitted the team never believed the Dutchman was out of the championship running.
With the final two rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season beginning this weekend in Qatar, Lando Norris leads the drivers' standings by 24 points, with team-mate Oscar Piastri and Verstappen in a tie behind him. This gap between Norris and the reigning champion became tighter after the Woking team was disqualified for excessive plank wear at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Speaking on The Sports Agents podcast, Brown admitted that Verstappen's relentless pursuit of perfection has meant that McLaren never thought they were safe.
“He's like that guy in that horror movie that right as you think he's not coming back, he's back. So what an unbelievable talent he is. He never makes mistakes. He seizes every opportunity.”
He added, “We've never thought he was out. You know, when we were, I think at a 104-point lead on Max, people are like, 'oh, this is a done deal.' We've never thought it was a done deal. And here we are.”
The disqualification after last weekend's race under the bright lights of the Strip, compounded by Verstappen's ability to seize every opportunity, has meant the championship is still wide open. But Brown is keen to look at it as just another kink in a long, successful season.
“And this is sport. You know, how many sports have we seen? I don't know if you followed the World Series. That looked like it was over until it wasn't. So I just think, that's why we don't get too upset about any one thing.
"It's just, it's sport. You learn, you live, you go again. Worrying about Vegas today is not going to make us faster tomorrow.”
While Norris is ahead in the standings, both Verstappen and his Australian team-mate are firmly in contention. And with the final sprint race of the season on the Losail circuit, there are plenty of points to be had.
Photos from Qatar GP - Practice
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
Qatar GP - Friday, in photos
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