Zak Brown “not surprised” by Christian Horner Red Bull exit: “Maybe the timing, but not the result”

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has reacted to Christian Horner’s exit from Red Bull Racing, claiming that the timing was a surprise, “but not the result.”

Red Bull announced on 9 July that Horner had been replaced in his role as CEO and team principal by Racing Bulls team chief Laurent Mekies with immediate effect. The reason for Horner’s exit is unknown, but it is thought that a string of performance woes and internal power struggles contributed to the decision. 

“Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today (Wednesday 9 July 2025) and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing,” said a Red Bull spokesperson at the time.

“Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO Corporate Projects and Investments thanked Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years.”

Brown indicated that some internal “drama” was potentially worsening at the Milton Keynes outfit prior to Horner’s exit. 

“Maybe the timing [is a surprise], but not the result,” Brown explained to TSN. “I think there’s been a lot of drama there the last couple of years, and it doesn’t seem like that drama has been calming down – maybe been getting worse.

“So, I’m not surprised, anytime in the middle of the season. But we’re head down on our championship. They’ve got Max [Verstappen] still knocking on the door, so we’ve got to pay attention to that. But, yeah, tremendous amount of success they had.”

Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Gabriel Bouys / AFP / Getty Images

“Given his age and his history in motor racing, I’d be surprised if he didn’t show up somewhere in motor racing,” the McLaren Racing CEO explained when asked if he thought Horner would make a return to Formula 1. “But I don’t know his other interests, whether he wants to go run a football team or what have you. So, we’ll see.”

McLaren has had a strong first half of the 2025 F1 season. It leads the constructors’ championship with 460 points – a 238-point lead over Ferrari in second. Oscar Piastri currently leads the drivers’ championship with an eight-point lead over his team-mate Lando Norris. Out of the first 12 races of the year, Piastri has accumulated five grand prix wins to Norris’s four.