Liam Lawson has slammed McLaren for playing ‘God Save the King’ instead of the New Zealand national anthem to honour their founder Bruce McLaren.
The F1 team was originally founded by the four-time Grand Prix winner in 1963 and are the second-oldest team on the grid.
Their first Grand Prix entry came three years later in Monaco with both cards retiring from the race.
Despite the team’s founder hailing from New Zealand, McLaren were based in England and raced under a UK licence.
Liam Lawson feels McLaren should adopt the New Zealand national anthem
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They have done so throughout their history in F1 with the British national anthem being played for their race wins.
But Lawson is adamant that the New Zealand national anthem should be chosen over ‘God Save The King’.
“It makes no sense,” he said on the Red Flags podcast.
“It’s a New Zealand team, the name is still McLaren. I have no idea.
“Red Bull play the Austrian national anthem and the team’s based in the UK. McLaren’s based in the UK, but it’s a New Zealand team.
“It’s complete bulls***, to be honest.
“Honestly, especially if you’re from New Zealand – because Bruce McLaren is an absolute legend.”
McLaren tragically died in a racing accident at Goodwood in 1970 during a Can-Am testing run.
McLaren have driven under a British licence since its inception
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The team founder has a sculpture outside McLaren’s headquarters in Woking.
McLaren also run in the papaya colour scheme that was on Bruce’s car for their first victory at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1968.
After his death in 1970, American businessman Teddy Mayer took control of the team.
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He oversaw McLaren’s first two title wins Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt in 1974 and 1976 respectively.
Ron Dennis took control of the team in 1980 from Meyer but they’re now jointly owned by the McLaren Group and US investment firm MSP Sports Capital.