It was a breezy afternoon on the F1 grid when McLaren CEO Zak Brown spotted Red Bull’s Christian Horner deep in conversation. The air was thick with speculation. Could the recent turmoil within Red Bull be the chink in their armor?
Red Bull Racing is currently grappling with a significant power struggle. The tension started brewing after the passing of Red Bull’s long-time owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, in 2022. Since then, the rift between team boss Christian Horner and the incoming CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has only deepened. Horner, aligned with the Thai majority owner, finds himself at odds with the Austrian camp led by CEO Oliver Mintzlaff and Helmut Marko, who is closely tied to star driver Max Verstappen.
The situation became even messier when Horner faced an internal investigation over alleged misconduct against a female employee. Although an independent barrister dismissed the allegations, it didn’t stop Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, from calling for Horner’s departure. The tensions flared once again at the recent Austrian Grand Prix, further highlighting the friction within the team.
Adding to the drama, Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s renowned designer, has announced his departure. This development has significant implications for Red Bull’s future, especially with the major regulation changes set for 2026 in both chassis and power unit designs. Zak Brown believes that Red Bull’s current performance hasn’t been impacted yet because the existing car was designed when everything was stable. However, he predicts that the real impact of this turmoil will be felt as the team prepares for the 2026 season.
“I think the turmoil will have more of a mid to longer-term impact,” Brown remarked. According to him, as the challenges of maintaining a winning streak grow, the team’s internal fractures might become more apparent. The upcoming 2026 regulation changes, which introduce new engines and chassis designs, could be the tipping point for Red Bull if the internal strife continues.
But it’s not just Red Bull that’s facing an uncertain future. Zak Brown sees 2025 as a golden opportunity for McLaren. With all the major F1 teams gearing up for the 2026 overhaul, McLaren is striving to bridge the gap with Red Bull in terms of pure pace. Brown is optimistic about the potential for a highly competitive 2025 season. “I think next year could be an epic season, right? You could have four teams fighting for the championship,” he said. He also mentions that Aston Martin and others could join the championship fray, indicating that the field is wide open.
“Everyone has very similar technology, so there’s no reason why others can’t do what we’ve done the last year,” Brown added. As the 2026 season approaches, the entire F1 landscape could shift, making the forthcoming seasons some of the most exciting in recent memory.
In the high-octane world of Formula 1, internal team dynamics are just as critical as the technology on the track. As Red Bull navigates through its power struggles and gears up for future challenges, fans can only wait and see how it all unfolds. One thing is certain – the path to the 2026 season is going to be one thrilling ride.
Source: Motorsport
