Zak Brown ‘can’t believe’ how McLaren’s owners celebrated their Constructors’ Championship victory

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McLaren took their first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years after winning their battle with Ferrari at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The British team have improved significantly over the past few seasons to break free from the midfield and consistently challenge for podiums and now also race wins.

McLaren were brilliant all season and have two drivers in Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris who scored their first Grand Prix victories.

Zak Brown has been integral to McLaren’s ascent up the grid since becoming CEO in 2018 and overseeing the team’s first victory in nine seasons with Daniel Ricciardo three years later.

The Constructors’ Championship triumph was a massive moment for McLaren as the British team usurped their old adversaries, Ferrari.

Brown explained that the post-race celebrations organised by the team’s owners were a surprise after the chequered flag fell at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

McLaren boss Zak Brown hails incredible Constructors’ Championship celebrations

At the final round of the season, McLaren were under pressure to deliver the title despite having a 21-point advantage over Ferrari. But the Scuderia’s Charles Leclerc receiving a 10-place grid drop for a battery change was a huge help.

Piastri was caught up in an incident with Max Verstappen at Turn 1 as the Australian defended and didn’t shy away from a fight with the Red Bull driver.

READ MORE: Oscar Piastri shares why he has been ‘incredibly impressed’ by McLaren boss Zak Brown after 2024 title win

Norris holding off Carlos Sainz and a resurgent Leclerc to win the Abu Dhabi GP would ultimately be enough for McLaren to also beat Ferrari to the teams’ title.

The owners of the McLaren team were delighted to win the championship and saw Bahrain’s capital city Manama turn papaya, the same colour as McLaren’s livery.

Brown was pleased to see the celebrations and thanked the owners for supporting the team over the season on his X account.

He said: “We couldn’t have won the Constructors’ Championship without the unwavering support of Mumtalakat and all our Shareholders. Thank you for helping us celebrate in style. We still can’t believe you turned the city of Manama papaya and changed the mobile signal! MEGA!”

The McLaren team are owned by Mumtalakat, the sovereign wealth fund of Bahrain, which took full ownership earlier this year after first owning 30% in 2007.

MSP Sports Capital also own a 33% stake as an external investor since 2022 after increasing their involvement in the team up from 15%.

The owners were also vital to keep the team financially stable during the Covid-19 pandemic as McLaren suffered and had to sell the McLaren Technology Centre in 2021.

McLaren need to be more decisive as a team in 2025

McLaren have two very quick drivers, although Nico Rosberg has told Norris to push for a rule change that could hinder Verstappen as the Dutchman has an edge in wheel-to-wheel combat.

The British team were blisteringly fast at times this season but weren’t sharp enough at races such as Hungary and the Italian Grand Prix.

They didn’t make a decision quickly and impose team orders at Monza, while Leclerc made a bold one-stop strategy work.

Rosberg urged Norris to drive go-karts over the winter to prepare for 2025. The British driver, in particular, needs to become more aggressive in combat to win a world championship.