Lando Norris beats McLaren CEO Zak Brown in karting challenge, claims trophy 'McLaren aren't getting'
Fresh off his 2025 F1 world championship, Lando Norris bested McLaren CEO Zak Brown in a sponsored karting challenge. Norris completed the slalom, pit stop, and hot lap course faster than his boss, jokingly asserting his right to keep the winner's trophy away from the team's collection.
Lando Norris has secured a personal victory over his boss, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, in a friendly but competitive karting challenge organized by DeWalt and eBay. The 2025 Formula 1 World Champion navigated a series of tasks, including a slalom and a pit stop simulation, to edge out Brown's time, playfully declaring the winner's trophy was his alone to keep.
Why it matters:
While a lighthearted promotional event, the challenge underscores the unique and close-knit relationship within the McLaren team. Norris's journey from the team's development program to a world champion racing for the same CEO he can now beat on track highlights a culture of mutual respect that extends beyond the corporate hierarchy, a dynamic often cited as key to the team's recent success.
The details:
The challenge, moderated by Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft, consisted of three stages. Norris set the benchmark with a clean run, his only minor struggle coming during the wheel-removal pit stop task. Brown, taking to the kart next, incurred 15 seconds in penalties for hitting cones, finishing with a time of 2m36s. Norris's final time of 2m31s, which included a 5-second penalty, was enough for the win.
- The friendly stakes included a joke from Croft that Brown might have to wash Norris's car if he lost.
- Upon winning, Norris humorously laid claim to the trophy, stating, "They don't allow me to keep my trophies, but this one is all mine. So, McLaren aren't getting this one."
The big picture:
The event comes on the heels of a monumental 2025 season for both driver and team, where McLaren secured both the Constructors' and Drivers' Championships with Norris claiming his first title. His emotional reflection after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, thanking his team, family, and rivals Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri, painted a picture of a driver who has matured alongside the resurgent McLaren outfit. This karting duel serves as a celebratory footnote to that journey, showcasing the champion's skill and his relaxed rapport with the team's leadership.