McLaren has traditionally prided itself on fairness between its drivers, avoiding any form of preferential treatment. Yet with both the team and the sport heading into one of the most consequential deciders of the hybrid era, Zak Brown concedes that flexibility may be required.

Speaking to Sky F1, the McLaren CEO confirmed that team orders are firmly on the table should the competitive picture become unambiguous during the race.

“Of course,” Brown said when asked whether McLaren would intervene strategically. “We’re realistic. We want to win this drivers’ championship. We’re coming into the weekend giving both of them equal opportunity, even though the points spread is what it is. But if, once we’re in the race, it becomes clear that one has a real chance and the other doesn’t, we’re going to do what’s necessary.”

Norris arrives in Abu Dhabi with a 16-point margin over team-mate Oscar Piastri, though Max Verstappen sits between them in the standings, just 12 points behind the championship leader. Both McLaren drivers downplayed the prospect of team orders earlier in the week, and team principal Andrea Stella previously indicated they were “free to race”. Brown’s latest comments, however, underline that circumstances can shift rapidly in a title decider.

“It would be crazy not to,” he continued. “We’re not going to lose a championship because we were trying to protect a third and a fourth, or a sixth and a seventh. We’ll see how the race unfolds, but the championship comes first.”

Brown also emphasised that both Norris and Piastri understand the broader goal.

“It’s a team sport. If one of them can’t win, they want the other to win. They’re team players – we saw that last year. It’s not unusual in any sport for team-mates to make sacrifices to give the team what it needs.”

As McLaren prepares for a tension-filled finale at Yas Marina, the message is clear: equal treatment remains the foundation, but the chance to crown a world champion may require decisive, pragmatic action.