Liam Lawson has criticised McLaren's decision to play the British national anthem after F1 grands prix as "bullshit." As the Woking-based team operates under a British licence, God Save the King is currently played when it wins a grand prix, but from its foundation in 1966 to the end of the 1980 season, McLaren operated under New Zealand registry, where founder Bruce McLaren was born. In 1981, the team was merged together with Ron Dennis's Project Four operation, with the licence being issued under the British flag, with seven of its eight constructors' championships and 10 of its 12 drivers' crowns coming under the Union Flag and not the New Zealand Ensign. Lawson is one of only three Kiwis to race in F1 since the change in 1981, the others being a one-off appearance for Mike Thackwell in 1984 and Brendon Hartley's spell at Toro Rosso in 2017-2018. But the RB driver is not happy that God Defend New Zealand was replaced by God Save the Queen, and since King Charles III's accession in September 2022, God Save the King. "It makes no sense," Lawson explained on the Red Flags podcast. "It’s a New Zealand team, the name is still McLaren. I have no idea [why it was changed.] "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 bullshit, to be honest, especially if you’re from New Zealand – because Bruce McLaren is an absolute legend."
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