'Too aggressive': Brown 'dragging Triple Eight back', says Courtney
Will Brown "dragging Triple Eight back," says James Courtney
Brown copped third penalty in five races on Friday in Melbourne
2024 champ 205 points behind teammate Broc Feeney
Supercars champion James Courtney believes an "under pressure" Will Brown is "dragging Triple Eight back" following a third penalty in five races.
Heading into Saturday, Brown is already 235 points behind championship leader Matt Payne, and 205 behind teammate Broc Feeney. Triple Eight is third in teams' points, 72 points behind Penrite Racing.
The #888 Red Bull Ampol Ford was stung by dual penalties in Sydney, first for spinning the wheels during his pit stop in Race 2, and for a clash with Anton De Pasquale in Race 3.
Speaking before Saturday qualifying, Courtney suggested Friday's race, which also saw Brown trip over Cameron Hill at the final corner, was a step too far.
"It is too aggressive," Courtney said on the broadcast.
"I think he is under a lot of pressure and it's reflecting in his driving, and ultimately he's got damage to the car, lost championship points and he's dragging Triple Eight back.
"Broc is pushing on, he's also having dramas, but he's able to calculate and make good decisions and make the best of a bad situation. But Will just seems to be digging a bigger hole."
Feeney and Brown returned serve on Saturday morning, Feeney claiming Race 6 pole and Brown qualifying sixth.
Brown then delivered a hammer blow to his critics with a brilliant charge to pole for Sunday’s race, marking his first pole since May 2025.
Triple Eight Team Manager Mark Dutton admitted his team got it wrong on set-up on Friday, saying: "We don't always get it right. We're not immune to going in the wrong direction.
"We had one of those days where we tuned them a little bit backwards, and then the hot conditions, tyres were having a rough time. We're confident we've learned from that and we'll take some steps forward this morning."
On Friday's incidents, Dutton said: "We'll own that, made a little mistake there cost someone else positions and himself with the penalty.
"So the penalty was deserved, he copped that on the chin. We try and learn from that as well and move forward and try to have better race cars in better qualifying positions."
