Open letter after the budget cap violation, too many synergies between Racing Bulls and Red Bull, taunts about Adrian Newey’s departure – Zak Brown and Christian Horner will not be friends in Formula 1 any time soon. After the crash of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in Austria, the duel between the team bosses is picking up speed again. The main problem: Red Bull simply has too little respect – at least if Zak Brown has his way.
Zak Brown: Disappointed with Red Bull after Spielberg crash
Max Verstappen’s driving style at the Austrian GP clearly went too far for Zak Brown. On the one hand, the McLaren CEO would have expected more strictness and consistency from the stewards, and on the other hand from the top management of the opposing team.
“I am disappointed that the management of such a big team as Red Bull [Verstappens Fahrweise gegen Norris] “We all have a responsibility to tell our drivers what is right and wrong when it comes to racing.”
“We have to respect the rules. But what we see is that there is a lack of respect. Be it in the financial regulations, problems with fathers on the track or similar things,” says Zak Brown in his all-round attack on Red Bull.
Which doesn’t mean that he will seek out a conversation with Christian Horner himself. “That is the FIA’s role. I’m actually not interested in speaking to Christian!” Brown clarifies.
McLaren CEO: Need full-time stewards in Formula 1
In addition to the Red Bull team boss, the stewards also got their fair share of criticism. Like Günther Steiner, Brown would like to see full-time commissioners for a full-time sport. “It’s a very difficult and quite complex job – and I think it’s very difficult to do it on a part-time basis at Formula 1 level,” said Brown.
“Max and Lando simply dueled, as you would expect them to do. And until someone tells Max that it’s against the rules, he won’t know any better,” the American explains. “I think the stewards missed opportunities to do that.”
The McLaren boss is convinced that with the right interventions the accident in Spielberg could have been avoided. Namely: “If the pit wall, the race management and the stewards had stuck better to what the regulations allow and what they don’t.”
In addition, the track limit penalty against Lando Norris got on his nerves. It was completely unjustified. “You need rules that are black and white and are implemented fairly,” Brown emphasised again. “There are some things that need to be reviewed and tightened up.”
“The drivers also say that they are a little confused about what is possible and what is not,” said the McLaren boss in the team boss press conference on Friday in Silverstone. What the Formula 1 drivers have to say about the rule madness can be read here.