Zak Brown accuses Christian Horner of arrogance amidst F1 rivalry
McLaren boss Zak Brown has launched a remarkable attack on long-time adversary Christian Horner, accusing the former Red Bull team principal of becoming “arrogant” and claiming the Netflix Drive to Survive spotlight has fundamentally changed him, reports BritPanorama.
Their increasingly bitter exchanges have become a fixture in the F1 paddock, with Brown admitting earlier this year that things had “gone too far.” Speaking to The Telegraph, Brown insisted Horner is to blame for the toxic atmosphere that developed, suggesting that fame and fortune had transformed the 50-year-old during Red Bull’s dominant era.
“I’ve known Christian for 30-plus years,” Brown remarked. “We used to get on. His results are amazing, hats off. But he’s changed. I think the Drive to Survive fame, the money, the glory, all got a bit much.” When asked whether Horner “plays fair,” Brown was unequivocal in his response.
“At times, no. Back when I was racing, you had drivers who’d push hard, put you two wheels off the track. That’s OK. Then there are drivers who push you four wheels off. That’s not OK. I’m a two-wheels-off guy. Christian is a four-wheels-off guy,” Brown added, highlighting what he considered a blatant example of Horner “fighting dirty.”
He cited Horner’s formal complaint late in the 2024 season, which alleged that McLaren had been injecting water into their tyres to gain an advantage. “He made allegations towards our team. I can’t imagine he believed them. It was simply intended to disrupt us,” Brown said. An FIA investigation cleared McLaren of any wrongdoing.
Horner left Red Bull in July after being accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female employee in 2024, though he was cleared following an internal inquiry. His departure marked the end of a turbulent period during which McLaren and Red Bull clashed repeatedly over car design disputes, political manoeuvring, and off-track sniping.
Reflecting on the strained relationship between the rival outfits, Brown noted, “There’s always politicking, trying to shut down flexi-wings and that sort of thing. But when you start getting into frivolous allegations, I think that’s going too far.”
“If I look up and down the pitlane now, I see us fighting hard politically, but there being a line that’s not crossed. I think that line got crossed before, and I think it was unhealthy. So I think we’ll see a little bit of a change for the better.”
Horner is currently enjoying some time away from F1. There has been speculation around a potential move to Ferrari, though current team principal Fred Vasseur signed a new deal with the side before the Hungarian Grand Prix in July. What the future holds for Horner and his F1 career remains to be seen.
The drama between Brown and Horner serves as a reminder of how easily the boundaries blur in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, where personal rivalries can become as contentious as the races themselves.
