McLaren CEO Zak Brown opens up about his relationship with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Despite the feud between the two being highlighted multiple times in Netflix’s Drive to Survive, Brown assures that the ‘hostility’ is indeed real. “I don’t like the way Horner handles things,” admits Brown.
The feud between McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Red Bull team boss Christian Horner began in 2022 when the American criticized the Brit over Red Bull’s breach of the budget cap. It was also Brown who called for more ‘transparency’ from Red Bull when the entire Horner saga around alleged boundary-crossing behavior came to light.
Brown confirms to The Telegraph that the ‘hostility’ between him and Horner is certainly ‘real’. “I don’t like the way Horner handles things, and undoubtedly he feels the same about me. But I think it’s good for the sport. You need different personalities and rivalries.”
McLaren vs Red Bull
The rivalry between Brown and Horner is not only reflected in memorable scenes in Drive to Survive, but their drivers are also increasingly encountering each other on the track. For instance, the Australian GP in the final rounds once again turned into a battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
However, Brown has full confidence that his McLaren can come out on top. According to the American, Norris, having learned from last year, is ‘ready to win’. “Oscar (Piastri) too,” adds Brown. “If we ultimately get it wrong, then we get it wrong. But let’s not get it wrong because we didn’t try at all.”
