McLaren's Brown: Credit to Seidl for 'binding' Piastri

Zak Brown says all credit goes to McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl for signing future recruit Oscar Piastri whom he says, will be given the time to settle in with Woking-based outfit.

Last summer's saga involving Piastri kicked off in the wake of the announcement of Fernando Alonso's unexpected transfer from Alpine to Aston Martin.

The French outfit then confirmed Piastri as the Spaniard's successor, but the young Aussie rejected the offer, having already signed a confidential agreement to join McLaren from 2023, a deal put together by the young gun's manager, former Grand Prix driver Mark Webber.

Although Alpine disputed Piastri's right to sign with team papaya, the FIA's Contract Recognition Board put the matter to rest in favour of McLaren September, paving the way for Piastri's move to Woking.

"Andreas is the one that I ultimately lean on to come forward with what he wants as a driver line-up," Brown tells Speedcafe.com.

"We think very similar, I can't think of any decisions that we haven't both agreed on, whether that's driver or other performance-related issues.

"It was Andreas who brought it forward. It was Andreas who recruited him, it was Andreas that had the relationship with Mark."

Indeed, as the chief architect of Porsche's success in the WEC from 2014, Seidl was well-acquainted with Webber who raced under the German's orders after his retirement from F1 in 2013.

"Obviously, I've seen him race," added Brown. "I know his background, but credit to Andreas for binding him. He was our reserve driver, which was something Andreas did.

"I mean, his resume speaks for itself to date, and it was Andreas that put forward the recommendation which I fully, fully supported."

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At McLaren next season, Piastri will be going up against the talented Lando Norris. While Brown sees a big future for his team's new protégé, he'll give the Aussie the time and patience he needs to get up to speed.

"I think it's important that we recognise he's a rookie who has spent a year outside of racing," said the American.

"I think he'll be like anyone else, a rookie that has a degree of a little bit of rust on him from not racing.

"But he's a huge talent, so we just need to give him time. I think what we need to do is not put too much pressure on him, or get into comparisons, or he's filling Daniel's shoes, none of that stuff.

"We just need to let him settle in and support him because I think when you come to McLaren, and come in the way he's come in, in between the Daniel situation, Alpine's situation, it'll be high profile.

"We need to make sure that we let him settle in, and while fans and media will be quick with their commentary, we need to give him time as a rookie to settle in."

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