The McLaren team must stay focused and ignore the 'horror movie' character of Max Verstappen, warns CEO Zak Brown. With the F1 title race heating up, Brown emphasizes the importance of staying calm and maintaining a strong performance, despite Verstappen's impressive comeback. Brown's statement comes as Verstappen, who starts in sixth place for the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint, is 24 points behind Lando Norris with only two rounds left in the season. The Dutchman's recent success has been remarkable, narrowing the gap from 104 points behind Oscar Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix in August. Brown's analogy of Verstappen as a 'horror movie villain' highlights the challenge McLaren faces in the title race. However, Brown remains confident in his team's abilities, stating that their goal is to secure the front row and finish in the top two positions. This approach, he believes, will ensure they don't have to worry about Verstappen's potential comeback. The CEO's comments also address Verstappen's recent statement that he could have won the Drivers' Championship if he were driving the McLaren's 2025 car. Brown dismisses this claim, stating that McLaren's early constructors' championship win speaks for itself. The Qatar Grand Prix Sprint weekend is set to be intense, with Norris facing a challenging race after a mix-up with Alex Albon and a wide turn at the final corner. Piastri, on the other hand, has a chance to reduce his 24-point deficit to Norris by at least one point on Saturday, with the main Grand Prix on Sunday offering further opportunities for gains.
