Brown surprised by ‘timing’ of Horner’s exit but not 'the result'

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has spoken out for the first time about the abrupt dismissal of Christian Horner from Red Bull Racing, expressing surprise at the timing but not the outcome of the move that has sent ripples through the F1 paddock.

Red Bull dropped its bombshell announcement on July 9, revealing that Horner had been removed from his roles as team principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing with immediate effect and replaced by Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies.

While the reasons behind Horner’s departure remain undisclosed, speculation points to a combination of Red Bull’s recent performance struggles and internal conflicts as key factors.

For Brown, the news was particularly striking given the often frosty relationship he shared with Horner, marked by competitive tension and public verbal sparring over the years.

Brown Not Shocked by Outcome

Speaking to sports network TSN, Zak Brown offered his thoughts on Horner’s departure, indicating that signs of unrest had been brewing at Red Bull for some time.

“Maybe the timing [is a surprise], but not the result,” Brown said. “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."

“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 had.”

Brown’s comments echo sentiments within the paddock that tensions within Red Bull's senior ranks had become increasingly visible in the past year-and-a-half amid power struggles and leadership questions following the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.

Read also:

• Steiner hints at hidden trigger behind Horner firing: ‘Timing very off’

When asked whether he expected Horner to return to the motorsport world, Brown suggested that a comeback is more likely than not – though not guaranteed.

“Given his age and his history in motor racing, I'd be surprised if he didn't show up somewhere in motor racing,” Brown explained. “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.”

As Red Bull grapples with its leadership transition, McLaren remains focused on fending off Verstappen and securing the title.

Meanwhile, the F1 world watches closely to see where Horner, a polarizing figure, will resurface in the sport – or beyond.

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