McLaren CEO Zak Brown 'Not surprised' by Horner's sacking
McLaren CEO Zak Brown admits he's "not surprised" by the recent sacking of Christian Horner from Red Bull, citing "a lot of drama" within the team over the past two years. Horner, who spent over two decades as team principal, was replaced by Laurent Mekies, as Red Bull faces ongoing internal turmoil and talent departures.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has publicly stated he was "not surprised" by the recent dismissal of Christian Horner from his roles as CEO and team principal of Red Bull Racing. Brown pointed to "a lot of drama" that has enveloped the Red Bull outfit over the past two years as a key indicator. Horner's removal came just three days after the British Grand Prix, ending his more than two-decade tenure, with Laurent Mekies stepping in as his replacement.
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According to Sky Sports News, no specific reason was provided to Horner for his sacking, and the 51-year-old reportedly described the news as a "shock."
"I'm maybe [surprised by] the timing, but not the result," Brown told Canadian TV channel TSN ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. He elaborated on his perspective: "I think 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 been getting worse."
Despite the internal turmoil at Red Bull, Brown acknowledged their continued competitiveness: "So, I'm not surprised, anytime in the middle of the season. But we're head down on our championship. They've got Max [Verstappen] still knocking on the door, so we've got to pay attention to that. But, yeah, tremendous amount of success they've had."
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Horner, who took the helm at Red Bull in 2005 as F1's youngest team principal, has navigated a turbulent 18 months both on and off the track. Allegations of inappropriate behavior brought against him in February 2024 by a female colleague were dismissed following two internal investigations, including an appeal, last year. Horner consistently denied these accusations.
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The backdrop to Horner's departure also includes a significant shift in the competitive landscape, with McLaren recently surpassing Red Bull as the dominant force in F1. Furthermore, several high-profile figures have departed the Milton Keynes-based team over the past year, notably legendary designer Adrian Newey, who moved to Aston Martin, and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, who joined Sauber. Max Verstappen's future has also become a subject of intense speculation, with Mercedes confirming talks with the Dutch driver's camp regarding a potential shock move.
As for Horner's immediate future, Sky Sports News understands he is currently serving a period of garden leave until the end of this year, meaning a return to Formula 1 would not be possible until January 2026 at the earliest. "Given his age and his history in motor racing, I'd be surprised if he didn't show up somewhere in motor racing," Brown mused. "But I don't know his other interests, whether he wants to go run a football team or what have you. So, we'll see."
