Who slept worst last night: Zak Brown

McLaren has seen much calmer days this Formula 1 season. But Zak Brown’s empire is now showing cracks on all fronts.

The team did wrap up the constructors’ championship early in Singapore, and Brown is understandably basking in the glow of that “important” achievement. But let’s be honest: for the public, that title barely matters.

In Formula 1, only the drivers’ championship counts – that’s the one with real prestige, the ultimate prize.

And right now, that ultimate prize is slipping away from McLaren.

The results since the summer break speak for themselves: Max Verstappen and Red Bull are back in full force. They have nothing to lose – and everything to gain.

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing (Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images)

McLaren, on the other hand, can only lose – and in recent weeks, the team has looked more nervous than at any other point this season. Strategy calls have become less precise, pitstops are no longer flawless, and even the drivers are showing cracks under pressure.

Of course, we could have once again crowned Oscar Piastri the ‘worst sleeper’ of the night. But the situation at McLaren goes far beyond their championship leader’s current dip.

All these ‘side battles’ have clearly left their mark on the team. The constant chatter, speculation, and media pressure have created a climate of uncertainty – and it’s showing on track.

Hovering over all of this, like a sword of Damocles, are McLaren’s self-imposed ‘Papaya Rules’ – in other words, the rules McLaren has shackled itself with. Because the team is increasingly tripping over its own code of conduct.

Every minor incident is dissected, every tiny contact scrutinized. One internal review follows another. And anyone who says this leaves no mark on the people expected to perform on race weekends is fooling themselves.

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren (Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images)

Norris and Piastri may insist otherwise, but the ‘papaya ghost’ still haunts their minds – just listen to Piastri’s radio messages after the Singapore clash, or Norris’ comments following the sprint incident. Everything at McLaren now revolves around one question: how does this fit into the internal racing code, and what are the consequences?

Those very “consequences” for Norris, announced after Singapore, were another self-inflicted wound. When you chase irreproachable fairness, you inevitably lead whoever feels wronged to speak up. If there were consequences for Norris after Singapore, will there be some for Piastri after Austin?

That’s the vicious circle McLaren has created – and can no longer escape.

The team has even missed a chance to calm things down: in Austin, Brown spoke about “transparency”, yet failed to truly be transparent. Since then, those “consequences” have kept coming back to bite him.

Because one thing’s clear: nothing is clear. And that uncertainty is palpable. Every media session has become a balancing act.

And right in a phase where clear communication is valued more than ever, Brown is also fighting a legal battle with IndyCar champion Alex Palou, who accuses him of breaking his word and claims Brown failed to honor their agreements. If anything, that’s ironic, given that the very ‘Papaya Rules’ are based on mutual agreement and the principle of fair play.

Meanwhile, more and more voices are saying what many have long suspected: McLaren’s pursuit of absolute fairness between its two drivers simply isn’t possible. And every attempt to enforce it only makes things worse.

Where this will lead, nobody knows – not even Zak Brown. But one can safely assume that his thoughts are racing when he tries to sleep at night – especially after the weekend in Austin. If anyone had a rough night after the United States GP, it was the McLaren boss. For more reasons than one.