F1 star Liam Lawson slams McLaren for playing God Save the King as they win races: ‘It’s bulls**t’
- Liam Lawson thinks McLaren should ditch God Save the King
- McLaren was founded in 1963 by Kiwi Bruce McLaren
- Lawson says the New Zealand national anthem should be played after victories
Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson has criticized McLaren for playing the British national anthem after race wins, as the famous racing team was founded by a New Zealand motorsport legend.
McLaren, Britain’s most successful F1 team, was founded in 1963 by four-time Grand Prix winner Bruce McLaren.
Lawson, the tenth Kiwi driver to grace the F1 grid after replacing Daniel Ricciardo on the RB squad after this year’s Singapore Grand Prix, says it is ‘complete bulls**t’ for McLaren to win God Save the King plays.
‘It’s a New Zealand team, the name is still McLaren. I have no idea,” Lawson said on television Red Flags podcast.
‘Red Bull plays the Austrian national anthem and the team is based in Great Britain. McLaren is based in Great Britain, but it is a New Zealand team.
‘It’s complete bulls**t, that’s what it is.
‘Honestly! Especially if you’re from New Zealand… because Bruce McLaren is an absolute legend.”
Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson says McLaren team should play New Zealand national anthem if it wins races
If Lawson had his way, the crowd would hear God Defend New Zealand if Lando Norris (pictured) or his teammate Oscar Piastri take the checkered flag
McLaren plays the British national anthem after victories because they race under a British license, since the team was founded in England and has been based in the country since its inception.
Some teams have indeed changed their nationality by changing their racing license, including Red Bull and Benetton – but this is not the case with McLaren.
However, the team still uses the papaya color scheme that McLaren used in the team’s first race victory at Spa in 1968, and the first logo featured the flightless kiwi bird.
Bruce McLaren, also a designer and engineer, was tragically killed 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 achieved victories in four F1 races, the last being the Belgian Grand Prix in 1968.
McLaren also finished second in the 1960 F1 Drivers’ Championship and won the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The racing team, the second oldest on the grid, has 188 Formula 1 victories, twelve drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ championships to its name.
