- Liam Lawson thinks McLaren should ditch God Save the King
- McLaren was founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren in 1963.
- Lawson says New Zealand anthem should be played after wins
New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson has slammed McLaren for playing the UK national anthem after race victories, given that the famous racing team was founded by a New Zealand motorsport legend.
McLaren, Britain’s most successful F1 team, was founded by four-time grand prix winner Bruce McLaren in 1963.
Lawson, who is the 10th New Zealand driver to appear on the F1 grid after replacing Daniel Ricciardo in the RB squad following this year’s Singapore Grand Prix, believes it is “completely nonsense” for McLaren to play God Save the King after victories.
‘It’s a New Zealand team, the name is still McLaren. “I have no idea,” Lawson said in the red flags podcast.
‘Red Bull plays the Austrian national anthem and the team is based in the United Kingdom. McLaren is based in the UK, but is a New Zealand team.
‘It’s completely nonsense, that’s what it is.
‘Honestly! “Especially if you’re from New Zealand… because Bruce McLaren is an absolute legend.”
New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson says McLaren team should play the New Zealand national anthem when it wins races
If Lawson had his way, the crowd would hear God Defend New Zealand when Lando Norris (pictured) or teammate Oscar Piastri took the checkered flag.
McLaren plays the British anthem after winning races because it races under a British license, as the team was founded in England and has been based in the country since its inception.
In fact, some teams have changed nationalities by changing their racing licenses, including Red Bull and Benetton, but this is not the case for McLaren.
However, the team still uses the papaya color scheme that McLaren used in the team’s first victory at Spa in 1968, and its first logo featured the flightless kiwi bird.
Bruce McLaren, also a designer and engineer, tragically died in an accident while testing a car in Britain in 1970.
Bruce McLaren (pictured) tragically died in an accident while testing a car in 1970.
He took victories in four F1 races, the last being the Belgian Grand Prix in 1968.
McLaren also finished runner-up in the 1960 F1 drivers’ championship and eliminated the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
The racing team, which is the second oldest on the grid, has earned 188 Formula One racing victories, 12 drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ championships.