The 2025 season for McLaren, under the guidance of Zak Brown, concluded in style with Lando Norris winning the Drivers’ Championship and the team securing the Constructors’ title thanks to the combined efforts of Oscar Piastri and Norris. Thanks to several videos shared on social media, fans can now also get a glimpse of the team’s lighter, more informal side during the Christmas party, full of laughter, playful jokes, and unfiltered moments.
Zak Brown steals the spotlight
The star of the evening was Zak Brown, delivering a humorous speech that quickly went viral. Taking the stage alongside Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the McLaren CEO joked about his relationship with the drivers:
“They both adore me, they idolize me. Behind the scenes, they call me Big Daddy,”
he said, prompting laughter from the room, with Norris covering his face in embarrassment.
Playful dynamics with Andrea Stella
Brown then highlighted the role of team principal Andrea Stella, noting that while the drivers feel free to joke with him, they are much more reserved with Stella:
“With me, they can take liberties, but not with Andrea. In the end, they’re terrified of him,”
Stella responded with a smile and a thumbs-up.
A nod to the FIA Awards ceremony
The speech also referenced the FIA Awards, when president Mohammed Ben Sulayem ruffled Norris’ hair on stage. Brown made light of the moment before teasing Piastri, questioning his courage and causing both drivers to burst into laughter.
Backing young talent
During his speech, Brown also reminded the audience of McLaren’s bets on its young talents:
“We put our faith in both of them, and don’t pretend you had better alternatives.”
Looking at Piastri, he added a pointed jab:
“You had Alpine,”
while addressing Norris, he recalled his early days:
“You just had to be faster than Stoffel Vandoorne.”
Piastri jokes about Las Vegas
Oscar Piastri closed the circle with a joke about one of the most embarrassing incidents of the year—the double disqualification in Las Vegas for excessive plank wear:
“It was quite exhausting at times. I think it really tested us, not quite as much as our planks in Las Vegas, but now we can laugh about it.”
The McLaren Christmas party thus revealed the human side of a winning team: a tight-knit group aware of its mistakes but able to laugh after achieving the ultimate goal. A perfect ending to a season destined to remain in the history of the Woking team.
With new regulations on the horizon in 2026, the confidence and chemistry on display here suggest McLaren will enter the next era as strong favorites to defend their crowns.
Leave a Reply