McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has ignited a firestorm of criticism after making a joke that appeared to reference domestic violence during the team's end-of-season celebration. The ill-judged comments, made in front of staff and drivers, have dramatically soured the atmosphere following a triumphant year that saw Lando Norris clinch the Drivers' Championship.
An 'Unhinged' Speech Overshadows Triumph
The controversial moment occurred at the team's headquarters in Woking, where Brown was addressing employees after a successful campaign. While thanking families for their support, he turned his attention to his wife of 26 years, Tracy. Brown stated, 'We've been married 26 years, see the black eye? Like I said, we've been married 26 years.' He then quickly attempted to backtrack, adding, 'No, I am joking, the dog hit her this morning.'
The remark was met with palpable discomfort. A video from the event shows driver Oscar Piastri's smile vanishing as he looks down at his feet, while Lando Norris maintains a strained polite expression. The clip swiftly circulated on social media platform X, where viewers expressed their shock and condemnation.
Online Backlash and Team Tensions
The reaction online was swift and severe. One user posted the video with the caption, 'Oh, Zak made a DV joke about his own wife in front of the entire company? Okay.' Others described the comment as a 'red flag' and criticised Brown for failing to find humour without resorting to 'outlandish' and offensive topics. McLaren has declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail.
This incident casts a shadow over what should have been a purely celebratory event. The speech also included several pointed digs at driver Oscar Piastri, further fuelling existing narratives about team favouritism. Brown told Piastri, 'don't pretend you had better options, [Oscar] you had f***ing Alpine,' and made a bizarre comment about testing 'how big his balls really are.'
Underlying Favouritism Claims Resurface
These remarks come after a season where Piastri finished third in the championship, despite matching Norris for wins and pace. Accusations that McLaren's 'Papaya rules' were applied unevenly to protect Norris's title bid have persisted. A key example was at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Piastri was ordered not to overtake Norris despite having a clear tyre advantage.
Brown's speech did little to quell these rumours. Australian fans have been particularly vocal in their defence of Piastri, with one warning Brown online: '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 combination of the offensive joke and the perceived slights against Piastri has created a significant public relations crisis for the McLaren boss, threatening to tarnish the team's championship-winning narrative.
