The rivalry between Max Verstappen and McLaren CEO Zak Brown has reached a new high, with the reigning four-time World Champion delivering a biting retort to Brown’s critique of his on-track behavior. After Brown slammed Verstappen for his tactics during the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver didn’t hold back, mocking Brown’s past as a failed racing driver.
The Mexico City Flashpoint
The Mexico City Grand Prix proved to be a boiling point in the 2024 F1 season. Verstappen, already under the microscope for several contentious battles with Lando Norris throughout the year, faced two 10-second penalties for incidents involving the McLaren driver. Norris ultimately finished second behind Carlos Sainz, while Verstappen settled for sixth, narrowing his championship points lead.
Brown was outspoken about Verstappen’s approach in Mexico, calling it “unnecessary” and urging the Dutchman to race like the champion he is.
“He’s such an awesome racing driver that I just don’t think he needs to drive like that,” Brown told Viaplay. “It puts everybody at risk, and it’s not clean racing.”
Verstappen’s Stinging Reply
In a recent Viaplay documentary clip, Verstappen responded to Brown’s comments with a pointed jab, laughing as he said:
“I always find that really funny, coming from someone that failed himself in racing.”
This was not the first time Verstappen and Brown had clashed. Earlier in the season, Brown criticized Red Bull for their “win-at-all-costs” mentality, labeling it as “nasty.” Verstappen, known for his fiery competitiveness, confronted Brown after securing his championship in Las Vegas, sarcastically referencing Brown’s earlier claim that Verstappen could only win titles in the best car.
“And like you said, before I could only win it in the fastest car!” Verstappen quipped during their exchange.
Brown Backs Norris for 2025
Despite the tension, Brown remains focused on the future, backing Lando Norris to pose an even greater challenge to Verstappen in the 2025 season. He believes Norris has learned valuable lessons from their on-track battles in 2024, particularly the clash in Mexico.
“Lando has learned a lot on how to race Max,” Brown said. “Max is transparent on how he races; try and pass down the outside… he’s not letting you past around the outside.”
Brown praised Norris’s composure in their heated duels and predicted a more calculated approach next season.
“I think he knows where and how to race Max, and I think he’ll race him differently next year.”
What’s Next for Verstappen and Norris?
As the 2025 F1 season approaches, the rivalry between Verstappen and Norris promises to take center stage. With McLaren showing impressive gains in performance and Norris learning how to handle Verstappen’s aggressive tactics, fans can expect a thrilling battle for supremacy.
For now, though, Verstappen’s sharp wit ensures that the off-track drama is just as captivating as the on-track action.