Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has made light of McLaren CEO Zak Brown’s awkward team radio message to Lando Norris. Norris fulfilled a lifelong ambition by securing third place in the final race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, clinching his first F1 world championship.
Right after the race, Brown communicated over the radio to Norris, saying: “Land, this is Zack from McLaren. Is this the world champion hotline?” Fans quickly mocked Brown’s tone, with some dubbing it “the worst championship radio ever.”
Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner shared his thoughts on the message. “I think he was trying to be funny, but sometimes when you try to be funny, it just isn’t,” Steiner commented. “In my opinion, it was dull and not at all amusing.”
When asked if Brown is usually an interesting character, Steiner replied, “I don’t think so. Maybe he thought it sounded cool to say, ‘Is this the championship hotline?’ but honestly, it comes off as whatever.”
When questioned about what he would say if one of his drivers won a world championship with Haas, Steiner joked, “You have a better chance of walking on water than winning a world championship with Haas. And I can do that!”
On a brighter note, Steiner could at least congratulate former Haas driver Kevin Magnussen on his surprise first pole position in the 2022 São Paulo GP sprint race. “I probably radioed them, but didn’t say this was the pole position hotline—I’m not great with humor,” added Steiner with a laugh. “Zak is usually funny, but sometimes we all try too hard and miss the mark.”
Fan Take: This exchange highlights the pressure and expectations involved in F1’s high-stakes environment, where even celebrations can be scrutinized. It also reminds fans that behind the scenes, personalities and humor play a big role in team dynamics, making the sport as entertaining off the track as on it.
