As the 2025 F1 season revs up, the head honcho of McLaren, Zak Brown, has thrown down the gauntlet, suggesting that Christian Horner, the team boss of Red Bull, might be feeling the heat. Brown has hinted that Horner’s long-standing position at Red Bull could be under threat, given the tumultuous events that have recently unfolded.
Brown is no stranger to controversy and has candidly admitted that the relationship between himself and Horner is far from cordial. He has put forth the notion that Horner might not be resting easy in his role as Red Bull’s team boss, especially given the upheaval the team has experienced of late.
Horner has indeed been the one constant for Red Bull since they made their grand entrance into Formula 1 in 2005. Over the past two decades, he has steered the team to eight Drivers’ World Championships and six Constructors’ Championships. However, the 2024 season, in particular, has put Horner to the test.
Red Bull, fresh from another Drivers’ Championship victory with Max Verstappen, faces the challenge of regaining their dominance in the Constructors’ Championship after a challenging 2024 season. Horner had to navigate not only the departure of key team members but also an internal probe by Red Bull’s parent company, GmbH, following allegations of misconduct.
Although Horner was cleared of the allegations twice by two independent KCs, the team’s performance took a hit. The departure of Adrian Newey, the chief technical officer, added to the woes. Subsequently, Jonathan Wheatley, the sporting director, and Rob Marshall, the engineering chief, also left the team.
However, 2024 wasn’t entirely bleak for Red Bull, with contract extensions for technical director Pierre Waché, aerodynamics chief Enrico Balbo, and chief engineer Paul Monaghan, among others. Yet, Brown believes that these developments have placed Horner in a precarious position.
Brown stated: “When performance is not at the highest level, whether it’s on-track, off-track, with sponsors, relationships, or brands, any of us could come under pressure.” He further cast doubt on Horner’s relationship with the Verstappens and questioned the impact of Horner’s lukewarm reception at the F175 season launch on Red Bull’s key sponsors.
However, Horner remains undeterred, as revealed in an episode of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, where he was seen expressing his true feelings about Brown. Horner is tied to Red Bull on a long-term contract that extends until 2030 and has the full backing of Red Bull’s majority shareholders, Clalerm Yoovidhya and the Australian shareholders led by Mark Mateschitz.
Despite the heated exchanges, both Brown and Horner acknowledged each other’s accomplishments during a recent FIA press conference in China. Brown commended Red Bull’s impressive track record, while Horner lauded McLaren’s admirable comeback last season.
In summary, the F1 paddock is brimming with tension, rivalries, and intrigue as the 2025 season gets underway. It remains to be seen whether Brown’s assertions about Horner’s position at Red Bull hold any weight or if they are merely a part of the psychological warfare that is as much a part of F1 as the racing itself.