Amidst the high-speed pursuits and sharp turns of Formula 1, an unexpected accusation has emerged. Zak Brown, McLaren’s team boss, claims Red Bull Racing is running ‘scared’ of its own star driver, Max Verstappen, stirring an intense verbal battle ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
In recent months, McLaren has positioned itself as a formidable rival to Red Bull, thanks in part to Lando Norris, who has been neck-and-neck with Verstappen in several races. The tension reached a boiling point at the Austrian Grand Prix when a collision between Norris and Verstappen left both drivers with punctures. Following the incident, Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, defended Verstappen over the radio, blaming Norris for not behaving properly. This defense didn’t sit well with McLaren, who criticized both Verstappen and Red Bull’s tactics.
McLaren’s principal, Andrea Stella, voiced concerns over the FIA’s leniency in punishing Verstappen for past transgressions, suggesting it has emboldened his aggressive racing style, particularly citing incidents from 2021 involving Lewis Hamilton. Stella’s views are shared by Zak Brown, who stated that F1 teams should guide their drivers on proper conduct and accused Red Bull of disregarding the sport’s regulations.
Brown went further to describe Red Bull’s strategy as a ‘win-at-all-costs mentality,’ contrary to McLaren’s racing ethos. He criticized Horner’s remarks to Verstappen during the race, feeling they were inappropriate and claimed that Red Bull’s actions reflected a fear of their star driver. Brown remarked, ‘It seems to me that Red Bull are scared of Max. We’re very honest with our drivers. If nobody tells him that what he did wasn’t within the regulations, why should he think otherwise? But to have Christian come on the radio and actually squarely point the problem at Lando – who are you kidding? Everyone has seen it. The regulations are very clear – you’ve got to leave a car’s width. He didn’t. Why did he have to say anything? It just felt wholly inappropriate.’
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s response to these claims appears dismissive. Christian Horner refrained from engaging with Brown’s accusations, saying, ‘I’m not going to dignify that with an answer.’ Verstappen, on being informed of Brown’s comments, responded with humor, asking, ‘Who is Zak Brown?’ However, the silence from Red Bull may speak volumes as the Formula 1 world observes the unfolding drama.
As the Formula 1 circus moves to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix, the spotlight is not just on the track but also on the escalating tensions between Red Bull and McLaren. Whether the racing will mirror the intensity of their verbal exchanges remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the rivalry is adding an extra layer of excitement to the F1 season.
