Zak Brown Flies to Indianapolis After McLaren’s Monaco Podium Win

Zak Brown traveled to Indianapolis just hours after watching his McLaren team achieve a double-podium at the Monaco Grand Prix. Lando Norris drove to his sixth Formula 1 career win on the streets of Monaco, with teammate Oscar Piastri grabbing third place.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished second. Brown, the McLaren CEO, stayed in Monte Carlo for the grand prix this year, skipping his usual attendance at the Indianapolis 500.

After celebrating with his drivers on the podium, Brown made the quick trip across the Atlantic, hoping for more McLaren success in America’s biggest open-wheel race. Brown called the Monaco weekend “pretty much perfect” after Lando Norris’s victory and Oscar Piastri climbing to third on the famous circuit.

Photos showed Brown carrying a giant bottle of champagne and celebrating along with Norris and Leclerc. The Monaco win vaulted Norris higher in the championship and continued a strong season start for McLaren.

The team now has both drivers inside the top five in the standings. Last year, Norris had also performed well but this sixth career victory helped solidify his place among the series’ top stars.

On the IndyCar side, Pato O’Ward led McLaren’s charge by qualifying on the front row for the Indianapolis 500. The team’s lineup also included Christian Lundgaard, Nolan Siegel, and NASCAR star Kyle Larson.

Kyle Larson attempted to run the Indianapolis 500 and Charlotte’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, a rare feat known as “the double.” McLaren’s Formula 1 team planned to watch the Indy 500 from overseas.

Oscar Piastri confirmed he would be watching from home, while Norris praised the skill of the American drivers and reminisced about his past as a teammate to Robert Shwartzman, who started from pole. While Norris said competing in the Indy 500 is something he would not try, he expressed deep respect for the challenge and the drivers who tackle both Formula 1 and IndyCar.

Leclerc echoed those comments, describing the Indy 500 as a “crazy race.” Even so, Leclerc revealed his dream is to race at Le Mans with his brother once his own F1 career wraps up.

This season has been tough and competitive, but McLaren’s recent performance in Monaco provided a huge morale boost for Zak Brown’s squad. The Monaco circuit is always tough on strategy, with this year’s race bringing added challenges due to track position and pit stop rules.

Teams had to manage tire wear and traffic, knowing even minor mistakes could decide the podium. McLaren’s execution was nearly flawless, and even Brown admitted the pressure during every lap was intense.

The team’s strategy calls, paired with Norris and Piastri’s composure, paid off with a first and third place finish. With back-to-back high-profile events in two different continents, McLaren finds itself in the motorsport spotlight.

Their momentum in Formula 1 and strong presence in the Indy 500 create optimism about the races to come. Brown, now in Indianapolis, hopes his team’s good fortune will stretch from the famous streets of Monaco to the Brickyard in Indiana. For more on McLaren’s Indy 500 involvement, see the coverage on McLaren’s IndyCar efforts.

As the season continues, all eyes will be on McLaren to see if they can keep up their strong form on both sides of the Atlantic.