In a recent twist in the ongoing friction between Formula 1 competitors McLaren and Red Bull, McLaren executives Zak Brown and Andrea Stella have made some pointed remarks regarding Red Bull’s struggle to retain staff.
Brown, who has been a constant irritant for Red Bull, was never one to shy away from controversy. Last year, during the behind-the-scenes turmoil involving Red Bull’s Christian Horner, he made his opinions known in multiple media interactions.
He raised eyebrows when Adrian Newey announced his exit from Red Bull, remarking at a Miami press conference last May, “The turbulence over there seems quite disruptive. I wouldn’t be surprised if more resumes start flying around.”
The following year, Red Bull suffered a few significant departures. Jonathan Wheatley, the long-standing Sporting Director, transitioned to a Team Principal role at Sauber/Audi. In a significant coup, McLaren snagged Red Bull’s Head of Race Strategy, Will Courtenay, appointing him as McLaren’s Sporting Director.
However, Courtenay’s switch to McLaren has been delayed, with Red Bull seemingly determined to postpone the arrival of their former strategist at Woking as long as they can.
Stella was questioned about this delay during the Australian Grand Prix weekend, and if the escalating rivalry between McLaren and Red Bull was at play. He responded, “We need to adhere to certain contracts, and we respect the other party’s position at the moment. We’ll wait patiently as they enforce what they want.”
Despite the diplomatic response, Stella, much like Brown, couldn’t help but infer that McLaren is becoming a more appealing prospect than Red Bull. He stated, “We’re keen on incorporating expertise, understanding more about other teams’ operations, and creating an environment that not only retains our people but also attracts others. It seems that strategy has appealed to some senior members from the same party.”
McLaren has been strategic in securing long-term contracts with its leadership, technical, and driving teams during the off-season. The most recent signing being Oscar Piastri, who committed to a multi-year extension starting in 2026.
Brown emphasized the importance of creating a desirable work environment, stating that employees and sponsors aren’t stolen – they’re lost. He said, “We’ve worked hard to create a place where people want to be. We’ve succeeded in maintaining stability in our pit wall, technical leadership, and driver roster without needing to rely on contracts.”
Such comments could be seen as a subtle dig at Red Bull, especially given Brown’s critique of their driver selection. After Yuki Tsunoda’s impressive fifth-place qualification at the Albert Park Circuit and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson’s Q1 exit, Brown told Sky Sports, “Yuki performed exceptionally, he’s probably the one who should be in the Red Bull considering his performance. But they seem to have some peculiar choices for drivers.”
The ongoing saga between McLaren and Red Bull continues to add drama and intrigue to the world of Formula 1, both on and off the track.