Zak Brown's unfiltered jokes headline McLaren's championship celebration
At McLaren's championship celebration, Zak Brown humorously reminded Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri of their less-glamorous paths to the team, highlighting the strategic risks that paid off with a historic title double.
McLaren team principal Zak Brown delivered a series of brutally honest and humorous jabs at drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri during the team's Christmas party, celebrating their historic Constructors' and Drivers' championship double. The remarks highlighted the calculated risks behind their driver lineup and the team's journey from midfield struggles to the top of Formula 1.
Why it matters:
Brown's unfiltered comments, made in a celebratory setting, underscore the high-stakes decisions and sometimes ruthless nature of F1 driver management. His jokes about the drivers' previous situations reveal the confidence and competitive edge that now define McLaren's championship-winning culture, contrasting sharply with the team's recent past.
The details:
- Addressing his drivers on stage, Brown stated, "We took big risks on both of you, and don’t pretend you had better options," before targeting each driver individually.
- To Piastri, he remarked, "You had f***ing Alpine," referencing the messy contract saga that led the Australian to McLaren instead of the French team.
- To Norris, he added, "And you had to be faster than Stoffel Vandoorne," alluding to Norris securing his seat in 2019 by outperforming the Belgian driver during a difficult period for the team.
- Brown praised the duo as a "unicorn combo" but joked about the potential for future friction, saying, "Maybe we'll be up here next year saying, ‘fuck that guy.’"
- He concluded by humorously suggesting the drivers are "scared shitless" of Team Principal Andrea Stella, despite messing with Brown himself.
Between the lines:
The exchange, particularly Piastri's retort about worn-out planks in Las Vegas—a nod to a technical controversy from the season—shows a team comfortable enough in its success to laugh at its own past difficulties. Brown's speech reframes McLaren's history: Vandoorne's era and the struggle with Honda power are now punchlines, while the Alpine-Piastri drama is a trophy of shrewd negotiation. This shift in narrative is a privilege earned only by winning, symbolizing how success allows a team to control its own story.
What's next:
The light-hearted roasting at the party sets a high bar for team morale heading into the off-season. The challenge for McLaren will be maintaining this winning chemistry and confidence as they defend their titles in 2025, where the pressure to repeat their success will be immense. The dynamic between the champion Norris and the rapidly improving Piastri will be a central storyline.