Zak Brown calls out Horner: 'Not personal, it's to protect our sport'

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Zak Brown McLaren CEO Horner conflict cost cap Red Bull
7 August at 10:00
Last update 7 August at 10:00
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  • Kada Sarkozi
  • Editor

Over the years, Zak Brown has been critical of Christian Horner and Red Bull Racing. First, about the Austrian team exceeding the budget cap, and then when there was an ongoing investigation of Christian Horner's alleged inappropriate behaviour, the McLaren CEO called for transparency. Brown now reacts and explains how he gets on with the Red Bull team principal.

McLaren and Red Bull are now close competitiors in Formula One, with the British team trying to chase down the latter in the constructors' championship. After 14 rounds, the gap stands at 42 points between the two rivals. "I've known Christian for about 25, 30 years. We used to race against each other. I would say we used to get on," Brown began telling BBC Sport.

Horner became a team principal in 2005, while Brown then joined McLaren in 2016, and the American then became a CEO in 2018. "To me, it's not personal. It's protecting our sport. The cost cap, the excuses behind that, I never really heard a 'we just got it wrong'. I heard excuses and not taking ownership," Brown explained his issue with Horner's reaction to Red Bull exceeding the cost cap in the 2021 season, that got revealed in 2022.

Moreover, following Red Bull announcing Adrian Newey's departure from the team at the Miami Grand Prix weekend, the McLaren CEO also took a jab at their rivals, saying they are receiving CVs from the Austrians. Another moment in the 2024 when the two locked horns was after the Austrian Grand Prix, where his driver Lando Norris and Red Bull's Max Verstappen collided fighting for P1. Brown called the Dutchman 'unsportsmanlike', and criticised Horner and the team for supporting the defending world champion's behaviour.

"When I see things not consistent with our values, I'm going to speak up about it because it's important people understand where we're coming from. As long as I'm friends with McLaren, our fans, our partners, that's what's most important to me," the American concluded.