McLaren CEO Zak Brown sparks controversy with domestic violence joke
Formula One supporters have reacted with disbelief after McLaren chief executive Zak Brown sparked controversy with remarks made during the team’s end-of-season celebrations, comments that many viewers interpreted as a joke referencing domestic violence, reports BritPanorama.
McLaren had gathered at its Woking headquarters to mark a campaign that delivered major success on track, highlighted by Lando Norris securing the drivers’ championship and Oscar Piastri finishing third after leading the standings through the opening half of the season. The mood was intended to be celebratory; however, a video of Brown’s speech began circulating online and quickly threatened to overshadow those achievements.
Addressing staff, Brown began by thanking families connected to the team, “starting with mine,” before attempting humour while referring to his wife, Tracy. “We’ve been married 26 years, see the black eye? Like I said, we’ve been married 26 years,” Brown said, before adding: “No, I am joking, the dog hit her this morning.” The comments drew an uncomfortable reaction in the room, with Norris smiling politely, while Piastri appeared visibly uneasy, looking down as the moment passed.
Online, the response was swift, with fans expressing shock that such remarks were made in a public, professional setting. “Oh, Zak made a DV joke about his own wife in front of the entire company? Okay,” one viewer wrote after sharing the clip. Another added: “There are 100 red flags for this guy and somehow people look past it.” A third commented: “There are definitely ways to be funny without saying these outlandish things.”
Brown was, however, clearly joking and was quick to provide clarification in the seconds that followed. The controversy arose at the end of a season in which Brown had already faced criticism over how McLaren managed its drivers. Although Norris emerged as champion, accusations of favouritism followed the team throughout the year, particularly as Piastri matched Norris for wins and pace. Strategic decisions increasingly appeared to prioritise Norris as the title fight intensified.
The most prominent flashpoint came at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Piastri was instructed to hold position behind Norris despite running on fresher tyres and closing rapidly. This decision protected Norris’s points haul rather than allowing a direct contest, reinforcing claims that McLaren’s so-called Papaya rules were not applied evenly when the championship was on the line. Brown’s speech did little to quell those debates, with remarks made that many fans interpreted as digs at Piastri.
“We took big risks on both of you,” Brown said. “And don’t pretend you had better options, [Oscar] you had f***ing Alpine and you [Lando] just had to be faster than [former McLaren driver] Stoffel [Vandoorne].” Brown then added: “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.” While praise followed, the tone continued to raise eyebrows. “Couldn’t dream of having a better driver lineup on and off the track,” Brown said, highlighting what now feels like a chapter laced with tension in McLaren’s recent history.
The season has certainly provided plenty of drama, with the balance of fun and professionalism now under scrutiny. As discussions continue about Brown’s remarks and their implications for workplace culture, the sport remains a vivid backdrop where laughs can quickly turn to serious conversations about respect and accountability.
