McLaren chief Zak Brown ripped apart by Hollywood star in furious social media outburst | F1 | Sport
McLaren chief Zak Brown was ripped apart by Hollywood star Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the aftermath of the season-defining Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Walking Dead actor appeared to suggest that Lando Norris had been favoured over his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri as the talented performer took aim at the F1 team’s ‘Papaya rules’.
McLaren have established their own rules which endeavours to give both of their drivers equal opportunities across the season. Norris ultimately got the upper hand on Piastri in 2025 and finished 13 points clear of the Australian to land the Drivers’ Championship title. Meanwhile, Red Bull star Max Verstappen ended the season just two points behind the champion, despite the fact he had found himself more than 100 points off the lead at the end of August.
Morgan appeared to be full of excitement ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Big day today. Been up hours in anticipation of @F1 season ender today.
“Pole position for Max… who just keeps coming! Never seen anything like what he’s done this season!! LFG!! Gonna need McLaren to do McLaren things… but all in on #MaxVerstappen & @redbullracing.”
At the start of the race, he then exclaimed: “Seriously gonnna throw up. CMON MAXXYYYY!!!!”
But his posts became X-rated as the race progressed, with the 59-year-old writing at one point: “We gotta pray that [Charles] Leclerc can get right up in Lando’s a***. Pressure will fold him.
“Or ZB (Zak Brown) will have to beg Oscar to give up spot. Oscar won’t, not after being treated so badly. F*** that. CMON MAX!!”
And Morgan later took aim at Brown as he posted: “Zak Brown is such a weanie. Screws up his own team but only cries about EVERYTHING else. Figure out your own s*** dude. Feel bad for Piastri. Hope he bails.”
Morgan then added: “Again. Zak Brown deserves s*** all. Trophy for boning Oscar is about it. God I hope Piastri tells him to shove it where the sun don’t shine. Papaya rules my a**. Lando rules perhaps.”
Norris ended the season at the top of the leaderboard after winning seven races and finishing on the podium on 18 occasions.
And after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the 26-year-old sent a heartwarming message to Piastri as he told Sky Sports: “I feel bad, I want to give him a hug. I want to acknowledge, I want to give him the respect he deserves.”
Norris then added: “I know what he’s achieved this year, and how hard it’s been on both sides. I just know there are going to be plenty more times where we’re going to have more of these battles. He comes out on top some of the time, I try and come out on top some of the time.”
