McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has ignited a firestorm of criticism after delivering a bizarre end-of-season speech where he appeared to joke about domestic violence, leaving staff, drivers, and fans in stunned silence.
A Celebration Overshadowed by Controversy
The incident occurred at the team's headquarters in Woking as staff gathered to celebrate a highly successful Formula 1 campaign. British driver Lando Norris had just secured the Drivers' Championship, with teammate Oscar Piastri finishing a strong third after leading the standings for much of the season.
During his address, Brown attempted to thank the families of the team, beginning with his own. In remarks that reportedly "went down like a lead balloon," he referenced his wife of 26 years, Tracy. "We've been married 26 years, see the black eye? Like I said, we've been married 26 years," Brown said, before quickly adding, "No, I am joking, the dog hit her this morning."
Awkward Reactions and Online Fury
The uncomfortable moment was captured on video, with the reaction of driver Oscar Piastri speaking volumes. While both Piastri and Norris initially smiled politely, the Australian driver's expression soon turned to a frown as he looked down at his feet, visibly uncomfortable.
Viewers online were swift to condemn Brown's choice of humour. One social media user posted the clip with the caption, "Oh, Zak made a DV joke about his own wife in front of the entire company? Okay." Another stated, "There are 100 red flags for this guy and somehow people look past it," while a third commented, "There are definitely ways to be funny without saying these outlandish things." McLaren has declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail regarding the incident.
Digs at Piastri Fuel Further Tension
The ill-judged joke was not the only contentious part of Brown's speech, which also included several pointed remarks aimed at Oscar Piastri. These comments have added fuel to existing speculation about team favouritism and the Australian driver's future with McLaren.
Throughout the season, accusations of preferential treatment for Norris dogged the team, particularly during the tight title fight. A key example was at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Piastri, on fresher tyres and closing fast, was ordered to hold position behind Norris to protect the Briton's championship points.
Brown's speech did little to quell these rumours. He told the drivers, "We took big risks on both of you. And don't pretend you had better options, [Oscar] you had f***ing Alpine and you [Lando] just had to be faster than Stoffel [Vandoorne]."
In another strange moment, Brown said, "What I really wanna do is mess up Lando's hair right now but I'm gonna dare Oscar and see how big his balls really are." He later praised the duo as the "two fastest guys in the world" before adding, "Then again, maybe we'll be up here next year saying, 'f*** that guy.'"
Brown concluded by claiming both drivers "love me, idolise me, call me Big Daddy behind my back," but noted they were "scared shitless" of Team Principal Andrea Stella.
Furious Australian F1 fans have hit back online, with one warning Brown: "Your power over Oscar only lasts while you have the fastest car. When you no longer do, he'll drop you faster than he dropped Alpine." The series of events has cast a significant shadow over what should have been a triumphant celebration for the Woking-based team.
