McLaren Chief Declares Formula 1 in a ‘Healthier’ State Without Christian Horner
Zak Brown Welcomes Positive Change in Formula 1 After Christian Horner’s Departure
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, recently suggested that Formula 1 is in a "healthier" and more unified state following the departure of former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Brown, who has had a strained relationship with Horner over the years, made his comments ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix and expressed optimism about the direction of the sport.
Christian Horner’s Exit and New Leadership at Red Bull
Horner, who spent nearly two decades at the helm of Red Bull Racing and guided the team to 14 world championships, was released from his role on July 9. His final years with the team were marred by allegations of "coercive behavior" from a female colleague—a claim Horner repeatedly denied and was twice cleared of. Horner has since been succeeded by Laurent Mekies, a well-regarded Frenchman with ample experience in the sport.
“I’m happy Laurent’s in the role he is in,” Brown stated. “I like Laurent, that’ll be healthy, and maybe we can get back to focusing on competition on the track. There’s always going to be some political aspects to the sport, but I think it is going to be healthier with Laurent. I’m a fan of Laurent, I have known him for a long time, and it’ll be good to go racing against him.”
A History of Tension and Crossing the Line
The professional rivalry between Brown and Horner was no secret, with barbs exchanged both on and off the grid. Brown had previously been vocal about what he perceived as Horner's divisive approach within the paddock, and he indicated that Horner’s departure marked a turning point in fostering trust among teams.
“It went too far,” Brown admitted, referring to Horner’s tenure. “There’s always going to be politicking in F1—let’s try and shut down their flexi-wings and that stuff—but when you start getting into frivolous allegations, that’s just going too far.”
Brown specifically highlighted how tensions flared beyond acceptable limits under Horner’s leadership. He noted that trust and mutual respect among teams are improving in the current climate.
“If I look up and down pit lane now, I see us fighting each other hard politically, but the line is not being crossed, and that line got crossed before. So I think that we’ll see a little bit of a change for the better. There’s a higher level of trust that now if we sit down and have a conversation on a topic where we think there could be some confidentiality, it’s just not an automatic: ‘I’m going to use that as a political weapon.’”
A New Chapter of Collegiality
Brown expressed hope that Mekies’ appointment would foster a sense of unity in the paddock, even as the intense on-track battles continue. He emphasized the importance of balancing fierce competition with a collaborative approach to address broader issues facing Formula 1.
“We’re going to be in a better place, a little bit more unified, and a little bit more trusting that while we’re fighting on track, we can have a conversation about what’s good for the sport off it. And that won’t get manipulated for political reasons and taken out of context,” Brown explained.
While Brown praised Mekies’ potential impact, he didn’t count out Horner’s eventual return to the sport. “I presume he’ll be back. He’s young, he’s a racer, and he’s got pretty awesome credentials,” Brown conceded. “But I’m looking forward to racing Red Bull, more like we race Ferrari and Mercedes, and being more collegiate, because it’s important for the benefit of the sport that we all can work together.”
McLaren’s Bright Horizon
As Formula 1 nears its summer break, McLaren finds itself leading both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, a sign of the team’s resurgence under Brown’s leadership. With Mekies now guiding Red Bull and a renewed sense of cooperation in the paddock, the sport’s post-Horner era represents a fresh start—both for McLaren and for Formula 1 as a whole.
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