F1 | Abu Dhabi GP | Zak Brown on 2022 season: “I expect at least three or four cars battling for the championship next year”
Zak Brown told selected media – including MotorLat – how he feels about having Ricciardo, the choice of the new livery and the hopes for the 2022 season.
The Saturday of the last Qualifying of the 2021 season has arrived. Abu Dhabi is ready to crown the last pole man and the new champion but everyone is already analysing this season and preparing the new one. Zak Brown had a talk with some selected media and, of course, we were there. The McLaren boss looked back at this season with us, explaining his view on the last race, manifesting his hopes for the future of Formula 1, the choice of the new livery and his happiness to have Ricciardo in the team.
The first question was about the special livery, used by McLaren in Abu Dhabi. Asked whether they want to use a special livery more often like its done in IndyCar, as they used a special livery in Monaco too, Zak brought the attention on the message they wanted to share. “We wanted to make a special livery, if you do it all the time it loses its specialty. We want to share great messages: this one is to extent the presence of females in this area and bring attention to this matter from our fans.”
The rivalry between Verstappen and Red Bull against Hamilton and Mercedes provided to F1 fan interest peaks, general media attention peeks, sponsors peeks. Is it enough to see a single team dominance next year or we can hope to see multiple teams’ battles?
“I’d be very surprised if the next year was a boring campaign. We were waiting for this moment since 2019. The new rules and new cars’ buildings will not make a distinction between winners and losers, lots of surprises. I would feel surprised if there would be a single team dominating. I expect at least three or four cars battling for the Championship at Abu Dhabi next year. This should be spectacular, up and down, something new in terms of aerodynamic packages. What we have seen now is just a taste for the future.”
Since the Circus left Europe, Pirelli tyres are having many issues with the kerbs, as the drivers experienced excessive graining, too many punctures and so on. The boss of Pirelli himself, Mario Isola, defined their performances as “unacceptable” and Abu Dhabi provided a whole new layout track. MotorLat asked Brown what if he is concerned about that for the race.
“Not really, - he replied –I have not occurred in any tyre problem. We are focusing on many commercial issues this weekend and I’ve not occurred in any problems with my team on tyres.”
The fans’ reaction has been a lot more critical in comparison with the last years. The McLaren boss has been called to give his own opinion on the new format. “This was discussed last weekend with the teams. It has a very positive impact of many features, especially on Friday and it is a good thing, - Brown said –I think the form is yet to get into some things but ether of us had ideas. The last year was exactly that, a test. Sponsorships are getting interested; TV is gaining it again too. I don’t think the format is perfect so that needs to be discussed but we have to give a total alignment. We are now discussing if having to raise the budget cap or not and similar things and decide together.”
With Abu Dhabi, Daniel Ricciardo will end his first year as a McLaren driver. MotorLat asked Zak Brown if he feels like the Australian has fulfilled his expectations yet and what is his best quality as a driver that fit the team.
“I’ll start with the second part of your question – Brown replied – the best quality of him as a driver is he’s a great teammate, not just to Lando but to everyone in the garage: he’s very honest, it’s a pleasure to have him at the garage. He has his challenges, to the gap between the cars, he has shown what he’s been capable of even when we had some struggles. If we look back now we would love to give him some speed. He’s been racing with Lando, who is as fast as anyone in F1 and it gives him the motivation to know the car and in the second part of the season, Daniel was up to speed, he was more comfortable with the car and I am happy to say to see him at 32 having a fresh start.”
That’s it for FP3. Lando finishes the session in P5 and Daniel P9.
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 11, 2021
Next, we qualify! 👊#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/5zYFgKqRVJ
