Zak Brown, the Executive Director of McLaren, expressed concerns about the negative atmosphere within the Red Bull team, suggesting that this could deter potential sponsors from associating with them in Formula 1. Despite Red Bull’s success on the track, with six wins in nine races, the team has faced internal turbulence, including an investigation into team principal Christian Horner. Although Horner has been cleared of any wrongdoing, the continued presence of Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, has raised speculation that Red Bull could be in a state of disarray. The recent announcement of design guru Adrian Newey’s departure in March 2025 has only added to the uncertainty. Brown revealed that McLaren has already received job applications from people associated with Red Bull and believes that the situation is far from resolved. He also foresees difficulties in attracting sponsors in the future, as they will be cautious about associating with a team in such turmoil.
The investigation involving Horner has triggered a power struggle within Red Bull, raising doubts about Verstappen’s commitment to the team until 2028. Verstappen himself has stated that he has no reason to leave Red Bull, but Brown believes that the reigning champions are not as invincible as they once were. He highlights the drama surrounding Verstappen’s future and Newey’s departure as signs of destabilization within the team. However, Brown acknowledges that Red Bull remains a formidable racing team and cannot be dismissed. In his opinion, Ferrari and McLaren currently have the best visibility and momentum, but he recognizes that circumstances can change rapidly in Formula 1 and that it is important to stay grounded.
