Zak Brown: Verstappen is a bruiser, Horner is arrogant

In a wide-ranging interview with The Telegraph ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, McLaren Racing CEO Brown also reflected on the team’s resurgence and the rising pressure inside Formula 1 as the global popularity of the sport accelerates.

Brown said McLaren’s 2024 Formula 1 constructors' title success hinged on a single pit stop in Abu Dhabi when Lando Norris emerged ahead of Ferrari after a stop that was seven tenths faster. He said: “It was the greatest moment of my career.”

He described the growth of McLaren from a struggling outfit to champions and said the precision of modern Formula 1 continues to drive his fascination with the sport.

Brown said Verstappen’s race craft has crossed the line on several occasions. He said: “He can be a bruiser, too aggressive on track. His arrogance comes out.”

Brown pointed to previous clashes with Lewis Hamilton, particularly in Brazil, and said a handful of Verstappen’s moves had been “overly aggressive.” He added that the greatest champions have always shown a degree of arrogance but insisted Verstappen has pushed the limits too far at times.

Brown said he has known Horner for more than thirty years but believes the former Red Bull TP's behaviour changed during the Netflix era: “He’s changed. I think the Drive to Survive fame, the money, the glory, all got a bit much.” Brown said Horner’s approach was driven by disruption and that he did not always operate within fair boundaries.

Brown highlighted Horner’s claim late in the 2024 season that McLaren had injected water into its tyres to cool them. Brown said: “I can’t imagine he believed them. It was simply intended to disrupt us.” The FIA investigated the allegation and found no evidence that McLaren had breached any rules. Brown said the accusation came at an important moment in the title fight and that the intention was clear.

Brown said he has a strong ego but draws a clear line between ego and arrogance. He said: “I have a huge ego. Make no mistake. Ego is good. Arrogance is terrible.” He said ego fuels pride and performance while arrogance produces errors. Brown admitted he struggles to disconnect from work and relies on his wife Tracy to make him switch off at the end of the day.

Brown gave a detailed account of McLaren’s condition when he arrived. The team had fallen to ninth in the constructors standings, the Honda engine was uncompetitive, strategy was inconsistent and sponsorship had collapsed.

He said the team was losing one hundred and twenty-five million pounds a year and that the Covid crisis left McLaren weeks away from missing payroll. Investment from MSP Sports Capital, a sale and leaseback of the Technology Centre and emergency financing kept the company operating.

The turning point came in 2023 when Brown promoted Andrea Stella to team principal. Stella warned that the car would struggle early but improve sharply with development. Brown said that prediction proved correct and that Stella reshaped the team’s technical direction. McLaren is now profitable with revenues rising and sponsorship income at record levels.

Brown said McLaren will not adopt a one-driver philosophy and will allow Norris and Oscar Piastri to race. He said the team’s identity is built on competition between teammates and referenced the Senna Prost era. He acknowledged the collision in Canada but said incidents will be handled internally and that McLaren will not create a hierarchy similar to Red Bull’s approach with Verstappen.

Brown said Formula 1’s global popularity is at an all-time high. He credited Liberty Media for expanding the sport and said Drive to Survive brought new fans from North America and increased the female audience significantly.

He noted the entry of Cadillac next season and the arrival of major commercial partners, including Louis Vuitton. Brown said team valuations have grown rapidly with the cost of entry for a new team now close to five hundred million dollars.

The McLaren boss said the cost cap remains essential to maintain competition and prevent wealthy teams from outspending rivals. He said sport must remain entertaining and that the health of Formula 1 depends on competitive balance. He added that the sport’s growth shows no sign of slowing.

Brown said McLaren will inevitably face a downturn but he intends to remain with the team for the rest of his career. He said: “You are gonna carry me out in a box.” He said no one wins forever and that the team must remain focused and disciplined to stay at the front.

Brown listed his favourite drivers as Norris, Piastri, Senna, Andretti, Mansell and Fittipaldi. He said Mika Hakkinen was the fairest and fastest driver he has seen and named Fernando Alonso as the most focused.

Brown said Lewis Hamilton “should already be” an eight-time champion. He reaffirmed his long-term ambition to guide a driver to the fabled Triple Crown (of Motorsport) within a single management era. What is almost certain is that McLaren is set to win its first F1 Drivers' title since 2008. Thanks to Lewis!