Zak Brown Condemns Helmut Marko’s ‘Poor Taste’ Remarks on Lando Norris’ Mental Health

"Insensitive remarks" – Zak Brown criticizes Helmut Marko's statements regarding Lando Norris

Zak Brown from McLaren has spoken out against Helmut Marko's remarks concerning Lando Norris' mental well-being.

Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, has expressed disapproval of Helmut Marko, accusing him of regressing Formula 1 by a decade or two with his remarks concerning Lando Norris' mental well-being.

In an interview with the German outlet Motorsport Magazin, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko suggested that McLaren driver Lando Norris might have a "mental weakness." Marko's comments came as he evaluated Norris's current battle for the championship against Max Verstappen, who is ahead by 52 points with six races left in the season.

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According to Marko, Max stands out as the top performer, being the quickest and possessing the mental fortitude required to contend for the world championship more effectively than both Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.

"It's understood that Norris has certain psychological vulnerabilities. I've come across information about the specific routines he must follow to excel on race day."

Since joining Formula 1 in 2019, Norris has candidly discussed his battles with mental health. He recently confessed that, due to the anxiety and nervousness he feels before races, he hardly consumes any food or beverages leading up to grands prix events.

Brown has criticized Marko, expressing that he felt "disappointed but not surprised" by the remarks made by the 81-year-old Austrian.

Lando has served as a sort of representative for mental health awareness. Toto Wolff has also addressed mental health, highlighting the importance of the topic. On Friday at the United States Grand Prix, Brown mentioned that they have been making efforts to discuss this serious issue and bring it into the spotlight.

"Criticizing that scenario seems quite unsuitable and somewhat regressive, taking us back a decade or two. While there's amusement in how certain individuals approach racing and the strategies they employ from a sports viewpoint, I found that instance to be rather distasteful."

As the Austin weekend approaches, Verstappen commented that Oscar Piastri is "too talented" to be expected to help his McLaren teammate Norris in his quest for the championship.

When questioned about the influence of Verstappen's remarks on Norris, Brown responded: "Not in the slightest. I noticed Max's statements."

"I really like Max and enjoy his company. We've had some great conversations this year, which I believe is an essential aspect of the sport."

"Lando is perfectly fine with it, and I have no problem with it either."

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