Brown says Drive to Survive fame ‘changed’ Horner

Zak Brown has never been one to bite his tongue, and the McLaren Racing boss just delivered another sharp jab at his long-time rival Christian Horner – this time suggesting Netflix fame and financial success went straight to the former Red Bull team principal’s head.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Brown lifted the curtain on a relationship that once looked far friendlier than the tense, camera-ready clashes that defined later seasons of Drive to Survive.

The Netflix series, which debuted in 2019 and turbocharged Formula 1’s popularity - particularly in the U.S. - did more than spotlight teams and drivers. It minted celebrities. Guenther Steiner became a meme machine, Daniel Ricciardo a global fan favourite, Toto Wolff a steely statesman, and Horner… well, a lightning rod.

According to Brown, the spotlight didn’t just brighten the Red Bull team principal’s profile – it warped his behaviour.

"I’ve known Christian for 30-plus years. We used to get on," Brown said, recalling an era when the pair were more colleagues than combatants.

"His results are amazing. So, hats off. But he’s changed. I think the Drive to Survive fame, the money, the glory, all got a bit much."

From Paddock Pals to Pit Lane Predators

When pressed on whether Horner played fair during his Red Bull reign, Brown didn’t hesitate.

"At times, no. Back when I was racing, there were drivers who raced hard and squeezed competitors’ cars two wheels off the track. That’s OK,” he explained.

“But other drivers squeeze you four wheels off the track. That’s not OK. I’m a two wheels off guy. Christian is a four wheels off guy."

And Brown wasn’t done.

"He made allegations towards our team. I can’t imagine he believed them. It was simply intended to disrupt us. Regardless of legality, everyone in the sport knows you wouldn’t do that for technical reasons."

A Post-Horner Red Bull and an Uncertain Return

Horner’s long tenure at Red Bull ended in July 2025, when he was replaced by Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies.

By September, the former team chief had officially departed the organisation after reaching a settlement – one that reportedly leaves the door cracked open for an F1 return in 2026.

Read also:

• Vettel on Horner’s Red Bull exit: ‘He left some big footsteps’

But if Brown’s latest stinging assessment is anything to go by, the McLaren CEO doesn’t expect a mellow, media-shy version of Horner to re-emerge anytime soon.

In Brown’s eyes, the Christian Horner of today isn’t the one he met 30 years ago… and it’s Netflix, fame, and a taste for the dramatic that pushed the transformation full throttle.

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