Zak Brown's Championship Promise to Lando Norris Resurfaces After 2025 Title Win

A video of McLaren CEO Zak Brown promising to buy Lando Norris his "dream car" if he won a Formula 1 World Championship has resurfaced following the British driver's title victory in 2025. Norris, who secured his first drivers' championship in Abu Dhabi, could now be owed a multi-million pound Pagani Zonda as a result of the long-standing gentleman's agreement.

Why it matters:

Beyond the lighthearted nature of the promise, it highlights the unique and close relationship between Norris and the McLaren leadership, which has been a cornerstone of the team's resurgence. Such personal incentives, while uncommon in the corporate world of F1, underscore the human element and trust that can drive a team and driver to the ultimate success.

The details:

• The footage originates from a 2024 interview where Norris first revealed the deal, stating, "I’ve got a deal with Zak – that if I win the championship he has to get me a car. I’ve specified which car. We shook on it."
• He later clarified in another interview that the car was his childhood dream car but confirmed it was not a McLaren.
• Norris eventually identified the specific model as a Pagani Zonda, a hypercar whose value can range from hundreds of thousands to several million pounds for rare editions.
• The promise was made before Norris's championship breakthrough, adding a layer of fulfilled prophecy to the team's 2025 campaign.

The big picture:

This agreement reflects a culture at McLaren that has successfully blended driver development with personal motivation. Norris's loyalty and growth have been met with significant investment and faith from the team, culminating in a championship. Adding a Zonda would merely be a symbolic cherry on top of an already impressive car collection for Norris, which includes classics like a Ferrari F40 and a Porsche Carrera GT alongside modern McLaren supercars. The story serves as a perfect postscript to a fairytale season, illustrating that sometimes the biggest rewards in F1 aren't just the trophies.