Zak Brown has weighed in on the dramatic dismissal of Christian Horner from Red Bull Racing, admitting he wasn’t surprised by the decision following a prolonged period of internal unrest within the team. The McLaren CEO spoke ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, suggesting that Red Bull’s ongoing turbulence made Horner’s exit foreseeable, even if the timing came as a slight surprise.
Christian Horner, who led Red Bull for two decades after taking charge in 2005, was officially removed from his position earlier this month, just three days after the British Grand Prix. He has since been replaced by Laurent Mekies. Despite the sudden nature of the decision, Horner reportedly received no formal reason for his dismissal and described it as a “shock,” according to reports.
The months leading up to Horner’s departure were marked by controversies and growing instability within Red Bull. In early 2024, Horner was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague. The allegations, which he firmly denied, were dismissed following two internal investigations, including an appeal. Nonetheless, the incident contributed to an atmosphere of uncertainty around his leadership.
Beyond personal controversies, Red Bull has also experienced a significant reshuffling of senior personnel. Adrian Newey, the team’s legendary technical designer, has moved to Aston Martin, while sporting director Jonathan Wheatley joined Sauber. These departures coincided with McLaren’s resurgence in performance and standings, placing added pressure on the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Amid these developments, the future of Max Verstappen has also become a major talking point. Mercedes has confirmed that it is in discussions with the Dutch driver’s camp over a potential switch. This has only added to the speculation that a deeper power struggle may have been taking place within Red Bull. Ted Kravitz recently suggested on The F1 Show that Jos and Max Verstappen may have emerged victorious in that internal contest, ultimately leading to Horner’s removal.
Zak Brown acknowledged Horner’s accomplishments during his time at Red Bull but made it clear that McLaren remains focused on the title fight. He pointed out that Red Bull, despite its internal issues, still has Max Verstappen competing at the top level, meaning they cannot be ignored in the championship race.
As for Horner’s future, he is currently on a period of gardening leave, which means he cannot take up another position in Formula 1 until at least January 2026. However, Brown believes a return to motorsport is likely. He noted that with Horner’s background and experience, it would be surprising if he didn’t resurface in the racing world, though he left room for the possibility that Horner might pursue interests outside of Formula 1.
Horner, in an emotional farewell to Red Bull staff, described his 20 years with the team as the greatest privilege of his life. His departure marks the end of an era for one of the sport’s most successful team principals.
