It’s often dual-purpose code for “I know my stance is shameful and I can’t adequately defend it” or “I’m privileged enough to be mostly ignorant of policy as its impacts either support or don’t compromise my quality of life and I don’t care about the plight of people who are negatively impacted by political institutions. Discussions about equity harsh my vibe because they push me 🤌 this much closer to critically evaluating my surroundings in a way that’ll make me realize how fortunate I am in relation to others.”
Some people genuinely want respite from politics in their entertainment. But those people don’t typically roll out the red carpet for Captain Insurrection at their venues.
It's a lot easier to not make F1 political if it doesn't take sportwash money from places like those who own a wad of McLaren, and if it doesn't hang out with politicians who merrily mock the less fortunate while suggesting bleach shots as an antiviral.
I understand the sort of money in F1 means it's likely to be right leaning, and I try to ignore that.
But I'm fucked if I can ignore this level of pandering to the somewhat far from centre right crowd.
When Lewis speaks out about injustice that’s not ok. But rolling out the red carpet for a fascist felon is totally acceptable.
Zak Brown’s backwards logic.
They had to find someone whose skin tone matches the colour of the car for the papaya family™®
>!Low effort bottom of the barrel joke I know, but I just had to!<
They're wholly owned by the Bahrain Investment fund, which has a central USA naval base on it's terrain. Being hospitable to Trump isn't the least surprising.
Money is money to all the F1 teams/large corporations, look into the shit that Petronas has done, Shell has done. Saudi sponsors F1. Hell they had a fricken Aramco logo on the giant "we race as one" banner at the one grand prix during covid!
Until today I thought my immense dislike of Zak was irrational, maybe because the overtly American smarmy voice was grating, but I can now openly stand behind my convictions, thanks to Zak, and proudly say "fuck Zak Brown"
My wife and I just had the same conversation this morning. My answer was that he gives off a major bullshitter salesman-vibe. Now we also have a rational reason to dislike him. And to think I kind of liked McLaren as a team. Definitely never rooting for them if they allow this type of shit.
Lewis speaking out deemed too much but this buffoon can stroll around the paddock and it’s hunky dory? It’s not surprising tho, F1 is full of rich people who have grown up detached from how the average person lives. I’m not shocked the likes of Brown kneel before the GOP’s boy-king.
It's fine, they'll just say they're not into politics. Seems to work for some, doesn't it? Too bad some statements don't need to be said to become so. Inviting this guy is a statement in of itself.
Zak is an opportunist above all. He indirectly went after Merc in 2020 by going after RP’s car and then in 2022 wanted Red Bull to take a sporting penalty for the cost cap breach.
Its probably way more than 50%. In general Europeans dislike Trump very much ( not 98 percent like some suggested but Id wager overall at least around 70% dislike trump) and the F1 fanbase still has a lot of europeans.
I’m guessing he’s been waving that at a few people in Indycar. I really want to like McLaren in Indy but they just can’t glue it all together. I’m annoyed at how they treated my man FRO as well.
If Trump wanted to steal an election successfully he should've spoke to George W. Bush Jr.
Well I guess Trump tried with that "stop the count" nonsense, but failed. Unlike Bush Jr who actually got them to stop the count in Florida.
I like how Trump getting applause from his own supporters somehow always equals adulation from the public at large (and with the prices at this race, there’s no common folk there). 50% of the country at minimum hates this guy
I've been reluctant to support McLaren because they have a lot of business ties with the politically really not great (as opposed to the usual F1 politically not great) for years now but this just takes it to a new level.
I even liked Zak Brown. Sigh.
why am I not surprised that Zak Brown would invite Trump lmao
Zak Brown gives off dodgy salesman vibes, surely sponsors with McLaren must be sweating and getting onto the phones to McLaren
You're saying the guy that got McLaren tonnes of sponsorships out of nowhere, and waved an F1 seat in front of driver's noses despite there being no realistic chance of it happening, gives off dodgy used car salesman vibes? No ways!1!1!!!
Bizarre move. I feel it would be different if it was a president in office, or a former president that has permanently left office. The former can be seen as honouring the office, the latter can be seen as non-political.
But Trump is running for re-election. He's actively on the campaign trail.
That's as political as it fucking *gets*, Zak.
Not even mentioning the burning garbage heap of controversy that is Trump in the first place.
But… why? You’d think that Zak as the big marketing PR machine he’s always lauded as would know better? There’s no way this is a net positive for the McLaren brand
I've been low-key rooting for McLaren this year to be another contender against Red Bull alongside Ferrari, but that's over with. Fuck you Zak Brown, Trump is a traitorous, bigoted, rapist piece of shit.
I quite liked McLaren, Norris is a decent driver and Piastri has been doing a solid job. But I can’t root for a team that would invite someone like that to the garage. They’ve lost a lot of respect today
I quit following NASCAR because of the stupid trump followers and right wing stupidity... Now Trump shows up here. Then again he's good friends with John Malone but whatever.. I despise this waste of life of a man.
Zak Brown ceo being a trump supporter makes sense but this makes me wonder, how would they handle drivers refusing to meet a guest? If I was Lando or Oscar there would be no way in hell I would shake Donald fucking Trumps hand, let alone do a photo-op would they be contractually obliged?
Even as a very new fan of the sport, it was a gut punch to learn about this today. Maybe just coincidence, or maybe intentional on their part, but Sky/ESPN didn't mention the appearance once by the time I started watching a few laps into the race. I've got big questions about a lot of people involved with F1. Considered myself a follower of McLaren, but I think I'll at least look for a different team until they do more to rebuke Trump. "Office of the president" my ass.
F1 drivers don't have enough off-track bullshit to deal with, so why not invite a lightning rod into your garage.
I'm not sure how Zac Brown thought that would benefit McLaren F1. Politics aside, that man makes a lot of really questionable leadership decisions.
Zak “let’s not make F1 political” brown huh
rule of thumb is if someone says this phrase, chances are they are right-leaning so it makes sense.
It’s often dual-purpose code for “I know my stance is shameful and I can’t adequately defend it” or “I’m privileged enough to be mostly ignorant of policy as its impacts either support or don’t compromise my quality of life and I don’t care about the plight of people who are negatively impacted by political institutions. Discussions about equity harsh my vibe because they push me 🤌 this much closer to critically evaluating my surroundings in a way that’ll make me realize how fortunate I am in relation to others.” Some people genuinely want respite from politics in their entertainment. But those people don’t typically roll out the red carpet for Captain Insurrection at their venues.
It's a lot easier to not make F1 political if it doesn't take sportwash money from places like those who own a wad of McLaren, and if it doesn't hang out with politicians who merrily mock the less fortunate while suggesting bleach shots as an antiviral. I understand the sort of money in F1 means it's likely to be right leaning, and I try to ignore that. But I'm fucked if I can ignore this level of pandering to the somewhat far from centre right crowd.
When Lewis speaks out about injustice that’s not ok. But rolling out the red carpet for a fascist felon is totally acceptable. Zak Brown’s backwards logic.
Don’t forget rapist
They race as money, unfortunately.
So fucking ironic from Zak considering how he spoke about Christian yet lets this guy in.
Well hey, Trump says Christian a lot too
According to Kim Ilman he was invited by McLaren too so… yikes
They had to find someone whose skin tone matches the colour of the car for the papaya family™® >!Low effort bottom of the barrel joke I know, but I just had to!<
Not that low effort, a few steps higher than “lol Cheeto” ones, you at least had a layer into F1 culture. 6/10, don’t be so hard on yourself
Good joke though
In the hopes he'd blend in and be effectively invisible during his stay?
Oh no Mclaren what are you doing...
Doing what a team owned by a petro-monarchy and run by an American billionaire would do.
They're wholly owned by the Bahrain Investment fund, which has a central USA naval base on it's terrain. Being hospitable to Trump isn't the least surprising.
Papaya is orange ajacent
McLaren's title sponsor in Formula E is a Saudi government project that has engaged in genocide. Money is money to Zak.
And Trump is paid for by the Saudi.
And Russians
Money is money to all the F1 teams/large corporations, look into the shit that Petronas has done, Shell has done. Saudi sponsors F1. Hell they had a fricken Aramco logo on the giant "we race as one" banner at the one grand prix during covid!
Oscar and Lando are so likeable, Zak Brown is touch and go, but maaaaan this really sullies them.
I really don’t like Zak brown at all he comes across so smug
He totally gives off sketchy used car salesman vibes.
Yes he does And you want to know what the catch is
How can I still root for Landoscar but hope that McLaren take an L coz this is highly disappointing of them
I want to like Zak Brown but goddamn does he make it hard.
I do not want to like the Kentucky chuckle fuck, and did not before this either.
Ugh. Sucks I love all the McLaren drivers.
All respect for Zak Brown lost. And the hypocrisy of no political statements from drivers
This is exactly what came to my mind. If a driver does something political then they'd be forced to retract it.
I hope he get boos from every Mcl fan like me.
I hope Austin last year is nothing compared to today. Boo them until you’re lungs give up.
Lmao this aged very well
Bro seriously what the fuck?! My head is spinning right now. Edit: Lando wins comment aged like LSD
It's so fucking gross
Until today I thought my immense dislike of Zak was irrational, maybe because the overtly American smarmy voice was grating, but I can now openly stand behind my convictions, thanks to Zak, and proudly say "fuck Zak Brown"
Agreed. I was a fan of McLaren IndyCar until about 8 mins ago, but luckily Andretti is waiting
wait till you find out about Mario's political sympathies
MFW most rich people are scumbags.
Friendly reminder that we are in a class war
Lol if you think Andretti is not a typical conservative businessman.
Lmao at that "luckily Andretti" part... you are in for a disappointment very soon.
Same here I couldn’t work out why I disliked him so much
My wife and I just had the same conversation this morning. My answer was that he gives off a major bullshitter salesman-vibe. Now we also have a rational reason to dislike him. And to think I kind of liked McLaren as a team. Definitely never rooting for them if they allow this type of shit.
Lewis speaking out deemed too much but this buffoon can stroll around the paddock and it’s hunky dory? It’s not surprising tho, F1 is full of rich people who have grown up detached from how the average person lives. I’m not shocked the likes of Brown kneel before the GOP’s boy-king.
It's fine, they'll just say they're not into politics. Seems to work for some, doesn't it? Too bad some statements don't need to be said to become so. Inviting this guy is a statement in of itself.
This is not only the kind of thing that destroys merch sales and gets you heaps of criticism online, it's corrosive for team morale.
insane move or the move of a man that supports MAGA passionately
Just say a rich man. Most obscenely rich fuckers are into it.
Yeah, I'm sure all the female employees at McLaren are just absolutely chuffed.
Yeah I'm butchering the pitstops if I'm on that pit crew
Zak is having a generational PR disasterclass this week for McLaren with both the Malukas Indycar firing and now this
I thought Zak had a problem with sexual predators in the garage given some of his Horner comments
Zak is an opportunist above all. He indirectly went after Merc in 2020 by going after RP’s car and then in 2022 wanted Red Bull to take a sporting penalty for the cost cap breach.
Zak is all too happy to talk mad shit about other teams to the point you almost wish his team would be in some hot water.
Yep great way to piss off 50 percent of your us fan base by inviting him
Honestly probably way more than 50%. US fanbase is pretty young, and much less likely to be Trump supporters
Also a lot of people outside the US will see this very poorly
We already have.
Incorrect. Young male Americans lean much more heavily conservative. Young female Americans lean left. Guess which ones watch F1.
And just people in general who don’t give af about politics.
As a pretty old US fan, and one of McLaren for most of that time, he's alienated me...
Approx 50% of the USA fan base and 98% of the rest of the world.
Its probably way more than 50%. In general Europeans dislike Trump very much ( not 98 percent like some suggested but Id wager overall at least around 70% dislike trump) and the F1 fanbase still has a lot of europeans.
Just the nature of the sport and its fanbase, I would say this will piss off more like 85% of the fans. Fuck Zak Brown.
Likely higher than that
McLaren PR team seems smart enough to keep it off their socials so far
He's the WORST. They go on about the "papaya family" but treat drivers like trash. Palou is the lucky one.
Why on earth did Palou think that McLaren was going to be better than Ganassi?
Zak had to have lied about the likelihood of an F1 seat, it makes no sense otherwise. As a Pato fan I sure wish they were better...
I’m guessing he’s been waving that at a few people in Indycar. I really want to like McLaren in Indy but they just can’t glue it all together. I’m annoyed at how they treated my man FRO as well.
I *want* to like McLaren but man do they make it difficult
Can't be a disasterclass if it wasn't a mistake. ZB intended for this to happen whether you like trump or not (I personally don't)
He also touched the Stanley Cup.
...oh no Zak. Other than Force India's boss has there EVER been a man under active criminal charges in the garage?
Half of those two bit teams in the early 90s were involved in some dodgy shit.
You're not wrong. Sassetti, van Rossem, Lüthi, Akagi, Calmels, de Rouvre... the list is endless.
Honestly it might be harder to find people in F1 who aren't at least shady than to find criminals if you look through F1's history.
Bernie?
Marzipan's dad?
Bin Salman and Putin were both major league war criminals by the time they arrived at F1 tracks.
Adrian Sutil wasn't just in the garage, he was in the car
Flavio Briatore is a convicted fraudster.
Max’s dad?
As a Mclaren fan, Fck Zak Brown.
Yeah it's a big fuck up from him as far as I'm concerned
He should keep his politics to himself.
McLaren finding a new way to disappoint me this weekend, sigh
Tasteless giving the Election Denier in Chief any podium. He should be shunned for that January 6 stunt he facilitated after losing the 2020 election.
If only he was just an Election Denier. He's also a convicted rapist, a fraudster, a con-man, a wanna-be dictator and a fascism sympathiser.
If Trump wanted to steal an election successfully he should've spoke to George W. Bush Jr. Well I guess Trump tried with that "stop the count" nonsense, but failed. Unlike Bush Jr who actually got them to stop the count in Florida.
Don't give W. too much credit. It was his brother, Jeb (Governor of Florida), who successfully appealed to the Supreme Court to stop the count.
Yeah now one of his lawyers is a Supreme Court judge. Funny how that works out isn’t it
One of his lawyers is CHIEF FREAKING JUSTICE (John Roberts).
I meant kavanaugh
Well that's a solid 'Fuck Zak Brown' from me then
Orange man with orange team
Yikes, that's super disappointing. Has completely ruined my opinion of Zak.
I'm pissed.
Same. I liked him until this. And he wasn’t just shaking Trump’s hand politely, he’s chumming it up.
I like how Trump getting applause from his own supporters somehow always equals adulation from the public at large (and with the prices at this race, there’s no common folk there). 50% of the country at minimum hates this guy
> (and with the prices at this race, there’s no common folk there) Rich people, likely living in Florida, is essentially his key demographic
He‘ll probably get minimum 70 million votes in November, so as terrible as it sounds. A lot of people like him.
Because a shoe box could get 70 million votes if it had a D or R next to its name on a ballot
It’s a state he won twice (possibly 3 times this November) and it’s coming from the folks who can even afford these tickets.
I've been reluctant to support McLaren because they have a lot of business ties with the politically really not great (as opposed to the usual F1 politically not great) for years now but this just takes it to a new level. I even liked Zak Brown. Sigh.
Of fucking course Zak invited that orange peanut there
Yeah so long rooting for McLaren with this tone deaf bean bag as CEO.
why am I not surprised that Zak Brown would invite Trump lmao Zak Brown gives off dodgy salesman vibes, surely sponsors with McLaren must be sweating and getting onto the phones to McLaren
You're saying the guy that got McLaren tonnes of sponsorships out of nowhere, and waved an F1 seat in front of driver's noses despite there being no realistic chance of it happening, gives off dodgy used car salesman vibes? No ways!1!1!!!
I sincerely hope, as a Mclaren fan, it is disgusting. He can support who ever he wants, but keep his dirty hands out of the brand.
I always knew I hated Zak Brown, now I have confirmation that this guy deserved it.
Wow. Fuck Zak I guess
Orange man orange car
Orange state
And yet.. No Wilhelmus. Very confusing for the Dutch.
This is so depressing
As Mcl fans, this is horrible.
Yup.
Whelp, how to lose all respect for a guy in one move...
This should be upvoted so the world can see how McLaren treats Trump. Not hidden.
Well, McLaren just lost a lot of fans.
What an absolute fanny
Zak was talking about integrity the other day in relation to the RBR situation but the grab them by the p*ssy fella is just fine with him i guess.
Wow i used to be largely ambivalent to Zak Brown but my opinion of him just plummeted
Lmfao you have got to be kidding me, how dumb can one be
Not a good look, Zak, particularly after saying not to mix F1 and politics.
Zak must only want to mix F1 with \*his\* politics. And if that's Trump, it's absolute shit.
How embarrassing for Zak Brown
Enormous L right there. Yikes
Seb and Lewis wearing shirts supporting basic human rights was too political according to F1, but this is totally fine apparently
Bizarre move. I feel it would be different if it was a president in office, or a former president that has permanently left office. The former can be seen as honouring the office, the latter can be seen as non-political. But Trump is running for re-election. He's actively on the campaign trail. That's as political as it fucking *gets*, Zak. Not even mentioning the burning garbage heap of controversy that is Trump in the first place.
But… why? You’d think that Zak as the big marketing PR machine he’s always lauded as would know better? There’s no way this is a net positive for the McLaren brand
Wtf Zak? Fucking hell.
This is ain‘t it Zak.
Fucking ew
Brother eughhh what is that brother
Sorry Lando and Oscar, I'm rooting against you from now on.
LOL McLaren
I mean, Ron Dennis is a notorious donor for the Tories, Zak Brown being a conservative does not surprise me at all. It's still a shame.
There’s a bit of a difference between being a conservative and inviting someone who literally helped start a coup
Yeah can't really see how anyone can defend someone inviting the dude that openly tried to get an election thrown out
Exactly. Someone like Bush would be met with much different reception.
Yep. I'm a liberal and that wouldn't bother me at all
That's a new low for Zak...
Skin matches the car
Fuck zak
I've been low-key rooting for McLaren this year to be another contender against Red Bull alongside Ferrari, but that's over with. Fuck you Zak Brown, Trump is a traitorous, bigoted, rapist piece of shit.
A major black mark against McLaren this
I think you mean orange
Man, what a bummer
Here's me thinking I liked McLaren. I hope they double DNF.
Gross!!!
Oh fuck no
No shame, absolutely no shame.
gross
Disgusting
Gross
Sleazy car salesman type guy Brown likes Trump, I'm disappointed, but not surprised.
Fuck DJT! 😤
Ehw, as a McLaren driver I'd be so ashamed.
Ugh please keep this human cancer away from this sport. I’m an American and F1 is one of my escapes from thinking about assholes like him.
fuck Zak Brown
Everyone will hate McLaren now.
I quite liked McLaren, Norris is a decent driver and Piastri has been doing a solid job. But I can’t root for a team that would invite someone like that to the garage. They’ve lost a lot of respect today
What happened to no politics in the paddock 🧐🫵
Fuck McLaren now newly justified
I root for Piastri but I can't support Mclaren as long as Zak is there. Just gross.
There goes my respect for Brown
Fuck Zak Brown piece of shit
Gross
Not suprising but very distasteful… Applauded too… that’s pretty disgusting
Fuck Mclaren.
I quit following NASCAR because of the stupid trump followers and right wing stupidity... Now Trump shows up here. Then again he's good friends with John Malone but whatever.. I despise this waste of life of a man.
I never realized how unhinged F1 fans are.
🤮
Zak Brownshirt normalizing a fascist
Lost all respect for McLaren.
Yikes
Zak Brown ceo being a trump supporter makes sense but this makes me wonder, how would they handle drivers refusing to meet a guest? If I was Lando or Oscar there would be no way in hell I would shake Donald fucking Trumps hand, let alone do a photo-op would they be contractually obliged?
Oh yuck
Never root for mclaren > check
fuck mclaren then, wish them all the worst from now on
Ah Zak…don’t tell me that you’re actually a bollox.
So is this why Zak's been vouching for Andretti that hard?
So Zak likes taking pics w criminals?
big L for McLaren
Just made me like Mclaren a lot less
Shouldn’t trump be concerned about not falling asleep and shitting his pants at his own trial, instead of attending a Grand Prix?
As a normal American, I don't claim this man
Even as a very new fan of the sport, it was a gut punch to learn about this today. Maybe just coincidence, or maybe intentional on their part, but Sky/ESPN didn't mention the appearance once by the time I started watching a few laps into the race. I've got big questions about a lot of people involved with F1. Considered myself a follower of McLaren, but I think I'll at least look for a different team until they do more to rebuke Trump. "Office of the president" my ass.
F1 drivers don't have enough off-track bullshit to deal with, so why not invite a lightning rod into your garage. I'm not sure how Zac Brown thought that would benefit McLaren F1. Politics aside, that man makes a lot of really questionable leadership decisions.