Netflix ‘changed’ Christian Horner: McLaren boss hits out at ‘arrogant’ Formula One rival and claims Drive to Survive fame went to ex-Red Bull chief’s head
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has taken an extraordinary swipe at former F1 rival Christian Horner, labelling the ex-Red Bull boss ‘arrogant’ while claiming Netflix’s hit series Drive to Survive changed him.
Horner and Brown, whose relationship dates back 30 years after competing against each other in Formula Three, have endured long-standing hostility to one another in recent year as their teams have fought tooth and nail on the track.
As a result, the pair have exchanged barbs across the paddock in an effort to gain a psychological edge, with Brown admitting earlier this year that their war of words went ‘too far’.
But speaking to The Telegraph, Brown believes the fault for their toxic relationship lies at the door of Horner, revealing how the British racing supreme has ‘changed’ over the years.
‘I’ve known Christian for 30-plus years,’ he said. ‘We used to get on. His results are amazing. So, hats off. But he’s changed. I think the Drive to Survive fame, the money, the glory, all got a bit much.’
When asked if Horner ‘plays fair’, Brown said: ‘At times, no. Back when I was racing, there were drivers who raced hard and squeezed competitors’ cars two wheels off the track. That’s OK. But other drivers squeeze you four wheels off the track. That’s not OK. I’m a two wheels off guy. Christian is a four wheels off guy.’
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Zak Brown (right) has labelled former F1 sparring partner Christian Horner (left) ‘arrogant’
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McLaren boss Brown says Netflix’s Drive to Survive series ‘changed’ the ex-Red Bull chief
Reflecting on an occasion where Horner ‘fought dirty’, Brown singled out the former Red Bull chief’s formal complaint at the end of the 2024 season, in which he claimed the Papaya were injecting its tyres with water.
‘He made allegations towards our team. I can’t imagine he believed them. It was simply intended to disrupt us.
‘Regardless of legality, everyone in the sport knows you wouldn’t do that for technical reasons.’
An investigation from the FIA found no evidence of rule breaking from McLaren.
Horner left Red Bull in July. He was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female member of staff, with an internal investigation clearing him of wrongdoing.
Reflecting on the tense history between McLaren and Red Bull earlier this year, Brown admitted the relationship had ‘gone too far’.
‘There’s always going to be politicking, and let’s try and shut down their flexi wings and that stuff,’ he said.
‘But when you start getting into frivolous allegations, I think that’s just going too far.
‘If I look up and down pitlane now, I see us fighting each other hard politically, but there being a line that’s not crossed.
‘I think that line got crossed before, and I think it was unhealthy. So I think that we’ll see a little bit of a change for the better.’
