Zak Brown’s “no choice, it was an Alpine” joke lifts McLaren gala | OneFootball

McLaren closed a historic 2025 in Formula 1 with a celebration worthy of their titles. World Constructors’ Champion with several races to spare and winner of the Drivers’ Championship with Lando Norris in the final race, the team enjoyed a relaxed gala, marked by humor and a phrase that did not go unnoticed.

During the private year-end event, CEO Zak Brown took the microphone and, amid laughter, recalled the early days of his two drivers. In that context, he made a comment directed at Oscar Piastri that quickly went viral: “We took a risk with you two. Don’t try to make us believe you had better options: you had a damn Alpine,” he quipped, provoking laughter among those present.

The American also included Norris in the joke, pointing out that his initial challenge had simply been “to be faster than Stoffel Vandoorne.” The room enjoyed the relaxed tone of the speech, although on social media the phrase sparked controversy due to the way Brown referred to both Alpine and a former McLaren driver.

The mention was not accidental. Piastri was part of the French team until 2022 and was at the center of one of the most memorable contract disputes in recent years, when Alpine announced him as a main driver without his consent. Hours later, the Australian publicly denied the team’s statement and confirmed he would not race for them, paving the way for his move to McLaren.

Time ultimately proved him right. With the British team, Piastri established himself in Formula 1 and was a key part of the Papaya dominance, while Alpine finished 2025 in last place in the championship. In a tongue-in-cheek manner, Brown recalled it without filters and turned a celebration gala into a phrase that went around the world.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.