Is Zak Brown ‘Not Surprised’ by Christian Horner’s Sacking Amid Red Bull Turmoil?

New Delhi, July 21 (NationPress) McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has finally spoken out regarding the shocking termination of Christian Horner as the principal of Red Bull. He expressed that while he was “not surprised” by the outcome, he was indeed caught off guard by the timing of the announcement.

Horner, who has been at the helm of Red Bull since their entry into Formula 1 in 2005, was officially let go on July 9, merely three days after Max Verstappen secured a fifth-place finish at the British Grand Prix. Although the team has remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind his dismissal, it marks the end of a period fraught with rising tensions and controversies for the Milton Keynes-based team.

In a conversation with Canadian broadcaster TSN, Brown remarked: “I’m maybe [surprised by] the timing, but not the result.”

“There’s been a lot of drama there over the last couple of years, and it doesn’t seem like that drama has been calming down — if anything, it’s been intensifying. So, I’m not shocked.”

Horner’s exit follows a tumultuous 17-month period, which began with allegations from a female employee alleging sexual harassment and coercive behavior. Despite two internal investigations clearing him and his complete denial of all claims, this incident marked the beginning of Red Bull’s unraveling.

Key personnel have departed in rapid succession. The technical mastermind Adrian Newey, often hailed as the best designer in F1 history, resigned last April and has subsequently joined Aston Martin.

Additionally, longtime sporting director Jonathan Wheatley left in July to become team principal at Sauber, and Red Bull’s head of strategy, Will Courtenay, is also anticipated to join McLaren after fulfilling his contract.

In terms of performance, Red Bull's dominance has waned. Verstappen, who clinched his fourth consecutive world title last season, managed only two victories in the last 13 races of 2024. This year, he has secured just two wins out of 12 races, placing third in the drivers’ standings, while Red Bull is currently fourth in the constructors’ championship.

Speculation surrounds Verstappen’s future, with strong ties to Mercedes.

Brown’s relationship with Horner has been strained. He previously accused Red Bull of “cheating” following their budget cap breach in 2021 and mentioned to BBC Sport last year that they “used to get on.”

Although Brown has been less overtly critical in 2025, he has not concealed his irritation with Red Bull's behind-the-scenes actions. At the Miami Grand Prix, he was spotted drinking from a bottle labeled “tyre water,” a playful jab at Horner’s claim that McLaren was using water to illegally cool their tyres.

“It was a light-hearted response to a serious issue,” Brown stated. “Teams have historically made allegations against one another. Recently, one team has emphasized that strategy more than others.

“I believe there is an appropriate way to protest against a team after a race. It needs to be formal, disclose its origins, and involve some financial commitment.”