Zak Brown cracks joke about McLaren's 2017 struggles at MCL40 launch

McLaren CEO Zak Brown lightened the mood at the launch of the team's 2025 F1 car, the MCL40, with a humorous jab at one of the team's most difficult recent chapters. When driver Lando Norris described the feel of the new-generation cars, Brown quipped he hoped it wasn't like the team's 2017 challenger, drawing laughter and highlighting the vast distance McLaren has traveled from its competitive lows to its current championship-winning form.

Why it matters:

The joke, made in front of reigning champion Norris, teammate Oscar Piastri, and Team Principal Andrea Stella, serves as a stark reminder of McLaren's remarkable turnaround. From finishing a dismal 9th in the constructors' championship in 2017—its worst result in decades—to now defending consecutive titles, the quip underscores a transformed team culture where past struggles can be referenced with confidence, not concern.

The Details:

• The moment occurred as Lando Norris was explaining his initial impressions of the new 2026-specification cars, which feature overhauled power unit and chassis regulations.
• Norris noted the cars felt different, drawing a comparison to pre-2017 models and even Formula 2, citing more power and a tendency to be "undergripped" to increase driver challenge.
• As Norris stated it's a driver's job to adapt to any car, Brown interjected with the punchline: "I sure hope it's not like our 2017 car."
• The 2017 McLaren MCL32, powered by Honda, was notoriously uncompetitive and unreliable, scoring only 30 points and cementing the team's position at the back of the grid.
• Brown joined McLaren in 2016 and became CEO the year after the 2017 season, meaning he oversaw the beginning of the long rebuild from that low point to the present success.

What's next:

The laughter that greeted Brown's comment reflects a team operating from a position of strength. With Norris set to defend his drivers' title and the team aiming for a third straight constructors' championship, the focus is squarely on maintaining dominance with the MCL40. The ability to joke about the past is a luxury earned by present success, and McLaren will be hoping their new car ensures such jokes remain possible for seasons to come.