Zak Brown believes that former Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has fallen victim to his own popularity. The Briton won multiple world titles with Red Bull, but was dismissed this year following a period of sporting decline. According to Brown, it’s primarily the money and fame – partly due to the arrival of Drive to Survive – that have gone to Horner’s head. The American emphasizes the importance of ego, but warns against arrogance.
In the aftermath of the British Grand Prix, Red Bull bid farewell to team boss Christian Horner after more than twenty years. Due to disappointing results and unrest behind the scenes, the celebrated Briton was let go. McLaren CEO Zak Brown, one of Horner’s biggest rivals, tells in an interview with The Telegraph that he saw his former colleague change as Formula 1 gained popularity. In particular, the newfound fame and financial boosts that came with Drive to Survive are said to have negatively influenced Horner.
“I’ve known Christian (Horner) for over thirty years,” says Brown. “We always got along well. The results he has achieved are amazing, so hats off to him. But that doesn’t change the fact that he has changed,” Brown continued sharply. “I think the fame from Drive to Survive, the money, and the glory have gone to his head.” With the arrival of the popular Netflix series, Formula 1 attracted new fans worldwide. Not only the drivers, but also the team bosses suddenly became public figures.”
Ego versus Arrogance
Brown explained that Horner has increasingly and unjustifiably started to attack his competitors. “He has made certain accusations towards us,” he clarified. “I can’t imagine he believed them himself. It was purely intended to hinder us.” For instance, Red Bull suggested last year that McLaren was spraying water on the tires to illegally cool the rubber. “Regardless of legality, everyone in the sport knows that you wouldn’t do that for technical reasons,” Brown emphasized.
The American has also lashed out at Red Bull in the past. All team bosses occasionally engage in mudslinging, especially those at the top teams. However, Brown sees fundamental differences between himself and Horner. He clearly distinguishes between ego and arrogance. “Don’t get me wrong, I also have a huge ego,” he concluded. “But ego is good. Arrogance, on the other hand, is terrible. For me, ego is about pride: it protects my brand and the team’s performance. Arrogance, however, leads to mistakes.”
