In the glamorous world of Formula 1, McLaren CEO Zak Brown found himself at the center of a not-so-memorable episode during a race weekend in Japan. This revelation happened when Brown was candidly asked about his most embarrassing moment. The typically composed and visible figure on the pit wall revealed a personal mishap that turned a routine situation into a full-blown police investigation.

His response took listeners on a humorous journey through an incident that unfolded like a detective story in the land of the rising sun.

Zak Brown’s lost watch created havoc in Japan

“I thought I had my watch stolen in Japan, and they take theft very seriously there”, Brown recounted in a recent episode of the Track Limits podcast, setting the stage for an unexpected twist. In a country known for its low crime rates and stringent law enforcement, the situation quickly escalated as the McLaren chief reported the alleged theft, involving the local police in what would soon become a tale of mistaken circumstances.

Describing the aftermath of his report, Brown humorously likened it to a crime scene investigation, saying, “It was like a murder scene, with how serious they took it, and the people at the hotel were understandably pretty upset that there had been theft.”

The plot thickened as the investigation unfolded, implicating the hotel and stirring concerns among its staff. However, the punchline to this comedic saga revealed the true nature of Brown’s predicament–the missing watch was, in fact, safe and sound, nestled in his own suitcase. The revelation turned the serious tone of the investigation into a moment of shared laughter, highlighting the human side of the McLaren CEO. “That was embarrassing”, he concluded.

On the other hand, while he didn’t have his watch stolen, his last-minute “steal” with Oscar Piastri has certainly paid dividends. Piastri, for one, got a much better car than what Alpine was able to give. Let’s dive deeper.

Zak Brown in full praise of ‘superstar’ Oscar Piastri

Zak Brown, whether he’d say it out loud or not, got a driver who was able to perform better than Daniel Ricciardo on the McLaren.

After Ricciardo’s impressive comeback, there is little doubt in the fan’s minds that the driver-car pairing just didn’t work out. The experienced Australian driver just didn’t gel with the car as well. However, that’s not the case with Oscar, as Zak reveals. “I think the benefit is they (Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri) like a very similar race car. So we are getting consistent feedback from the two.”

Calling Oscar a “future superstar”, Zak Brown talks about how he’s all satisfied in the driver department. “We are benefitting from having two fast drivers that are very technical. We do have experience and a rookie. It’s just our experienced guy happens to be pretty young.”

Also Read: ‘McLaren Will Blow Mercedes Again’: Zak Brown’s Gamble Against Toto Wolff to Win Championships Lauded by F1 Expert

Going into further detail about Oscar, Zak reveals that his maturity is what sets him apart from other drivers, especially other rookies.  “He doesn’t try and win on Friday. He puts the lap down when he needs to, which is usually Saturday in qualifying, so I think we’ve got a superstar on our hands.”

Well, one thing is for sure though. If McLaren somehow manages to start the season with a bang, they might very well be in contention for fighting Red Bull for the wins. It is, perhaps, only a matter of time.

Watch This Story | Is Oscar Piastri Already Justifying His Talent By Performing Better Than Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren?