The British national anthem has been heard following five McLaren Grand Prix victories so far in 2024, with Lando Norris winning three times and Oscar Piastri twice
The British national anthem has been heard following five McLaren Grand Prix victories so far in 2024, with Lando Norris winning three times and Oscar Piastri twice The British national anthem has been heard following five McLaren Grand Prix victories so far in 2024, with Lando Norris winning three times and Oscar Piastri twice
For decades, the British national anthem has been played following a McLaren victory in a Formula 1 race.
But one of the sport’s newest racing stars is not on board with that. In fact, Liam Lawson thinks it is “bulls***” that God Save The King is played whenever Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri secures victory in a Grand Prix.
After most F1 races, three pieces of music are played out. First, the anthem of the winning driver’s home country is heard, before the national song of their team. The one piece that never changes is the Toreador March, from the French opera Carmen, which plays as the top three drivers douse each other with champagne.
The exception comes in the case that the home nation of both the driver and their team is the same. For example, when Lewis Hamilton wins a race, only the British national anthem is played because, although Mercedes is a German brand, the F1 team is registered as a UK constructor and their headquarters is in Brackley.
The same is true of Woking-based McLaren – when Norris wins, only God Save The King is heard. Not everyone follows that convention though as Red Bull, whose F1 team factory is in Milton Keynes, operate as an Austrian constructor and so use the anthem of the European country.
And New Zealander Lawson thinks it should be his own national anthem that is played whenever one of the Papaya cars takes victory, because the company was originally founded by a Kiwi. “It makes no sense. It is a New Zealand team, the name is still McLaren. I have no idea,” the RB driver told the Red Flags podcast.
“Red Bull play the Austrian national anthem and the team is based in the UK. McLaren is based in the UK, but it is a New Zealand team. It is complete bulls***, to be honest.”
A history of McLaren F1 ownership
(
Image:
Getty Images)
Lawson is correct that the roots of both the McLaren F1 team and car-making company of the same name are in New Zealand. Bruce McLaren, born in Auckland, raced in the sport 100 times between 1958 and 1970, when he died in a crash at Goodwood, aged just 32.
But his legacy lives on until today in the form of the team he founded in 1963. which has won eight constructors’ titles and 12 drivers’ championships. Teddy Maye took charge of the team after McLaren’s death before Ron Dennis became the leader in 1981 as CEO, chairman and director of the company.
The company spent some time as a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz until it became independent again in 2011. Six years later, Dennis was bought out and the largest shareholder today is the Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of Bahrain. Though it remains a public company, McLaren is essentially owned by the Bahraini royal family.
Learn more
Catch all the action from Formula One on Sky Sports and get exclusive access to races, qualifying and much more for every Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, you won’t miss a lap on Sky Sports.
Mirror – Sport
