McLaren's Zak Brown 'Not Surprised' By Horner's Exit Amid Red Bull Turmoil
Zak Brown wasn't surprised by Red Bull's decision to part ways with Christian Horner after two decades. Laurent Mekies replaces him as team principal amid allegations.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has admitted he wasn't surprised by Red Bull Racing's decision to part ways with longtime team principal Christian Horner, hinting that the departure had been a long time coming.
Horner's exit marks the end of a two-decade tenure with Red Bull, a move that shocked many in the Formula 1 world. But for Brown, the signs were already there.
'Maybe the timing, but not the result," Brown told TSN when asked whether he was caught off guard by the news.
'There's been a lot of drama there the last couple of years, and it doesn't seem like that drama has been calming down—maybe even been getting worse. So, I'm not surprised, anytime in the middle of the season."
Christian Horner's departure comes after months of intense scrutiny. At the start of the 2024 season, he faced allegations of inappropriate behavior made by a female colleague, prompting an internal investigation.
While Red Bull GmbH ultimately cleared Horner of any wrongdoing, the controversy sparked wider unrest within the team.
The situation only escalated with the high-profile exits of key team figures such as Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey and Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, signaling significant internal upheaval.
While the drama at Red Bull dominated headlines, Brown emphasized that McLaren's focus remains firmly on the championship fight.
'We're head down on our Championship," Brown said. 'They've got Max still knocking on the door, so we've got to pay attention to that. But [Red Bull has had] a tremendous amount of success."
New Leadership at Red Bull
Despite Horner's abrupt removal, Red Bull has yet to provide an official explanation for the decision. He has been replaced by Laurent Mekies, the former team principal of sister team Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri).
Mekies now faces the challenge of steering Red Bull through a season already marred by internal conflict and shifting leadership.
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First Published:
July 22, 2025, 17:03 IST
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