McLaren’s Zak Brown reignites his feud with Christian Horner, calling out Red Bull’s conduct and demanding greater transparency in Formula 1.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has made it clear—there’s “no love lost” between him and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. He openly admits that he doesn’t “appreciate his behavior.”
Brown has been vocal about his criticism of Horner’s management at Red Bull, particularly over the past season. While Horner chose not to publicly respond at first, he did label Brown a “jerk” in the latest season of Drive to Survive.
A Feud Fueled by Controversies
The public tension between the two started when Brown criticized Red Bull for breaching the 2021 cost cap regulations. Although it was a minor infraction, the team was fined heavily and penalized with reduced wind tunnel time.
Things escalated further when Brown called for “more transparency” regarding Red Bull’s internal investigation into Horner’s alleged misconduct towards an employee. While Red Bull GmbH officially cleared Horner, the case has since been taken to court.
With Netflix’s cameras now offering fans an inside look at the sport, Brown was asked if his rivalry with Horner was merely for show.
“Oh no, this is all real. Nothing for the cameras.”
“There’s no love lost. I don’t like his way of doing things, and I’m sure he feels the same about me.”
“But I think rivalries are good for the sport. You need different personalities, different dynamics. Some rivalries are friendly, others are more intense. That’s always been the case.”
Brown’s Criticism: A Matter of Integrity
Reflecting on their relationship, Brown pointed out Horner’s “constant excuses.”
“I’ve known Christian for 25 or 30 years. We used to race against each other, and we got along fine back then. But I believe in transparency.”
“If you make a mistake, own it. When Red Bull breached the cost cap, I never really heard them say, ‘We got it wrong.’ Instead, I heard excuses and a refusal to take responsibility.”
“When someone breaks financial regulations and doesn’t take it seriously, it damages the integrity of the sport. This isn’t personal—it’s about protecting Formula 1.”
Regarding Horner’s internal investigation, Brown didn’t hold back:
“If something doesn’t align with our values, I’ll speak up. People need to understand where we stand.”
He also acknowledged that taking a stand might make him unpopular in the paddock.
“I know I won’t always be liked, and I won’t be everyone’s friend in the pit lane. But as long as I have the support of McLaren, our fans, and our partners, that’s what truly matters to me.”
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No Love Lost: Brown’s Fierce Feud with Horner Heats Up No Love Lost: Brown’s Fierce Feud with Horner Heats Up
