McLaren CEO Zak Brown provides an analysis of the internal workings at rival team Red Bull. According to the American, the Austrian team is so afraid of losing star driver Max Verstappen that the entire team is tailored to the Dutchman. ‘If that means they have to become a one-man team, a small empire for one driver, they are willing to do so,’ concludes Brown.
With four world titles and 68 Grand Prix victories to his name, Max Verstappen is now one of the biggest drivers in Formula 1. Over the past few years, the Dutchman has also set one record after another – including the most consecutive victories in 2023 – while his teammates successively fell short next to the world champion. According to McLaren CEO Zak Brown, Red Bull is too focused on the Dutchman.
“Sometimes, long before Christian Horner is fired midway through the 2025 season, it seems as if Max is leading the team,” writes the American in his new book Seven Tenths of a Second. “Everyone seems to be subservient to him. Everyone seems to be afraid of him. The car is so tailored to Max that it seems difficult for others to drive well with it. Red Bull usually doesn’t choose a second driver who poses a threat to Max, otherwise Carlos Sainz would have been an obvious choice (for 2025).” The Spaniard had to make way for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari at the end of 2024, and after lengthy negotiations, ended up at Williams.
Fear at Red Bull?
According to Brown, Red Bull is ‘afraid’ that Verstappen will leave the team. “Max is a brilliant driver and they are terrified of losing him. They have chosen to keep him happy above all else,” continues the CEO. “If that means they have to become a one-man team, a small empire for one driver, they are willing to do so.” However, Brown has no intention of following Red Bull’s example with his own team. “That’s not how I want to lead McLaren. That kind of unfairness, stifling competition, is not part of our corporate culture.”
