- Verstappen and Horner refused to apologise for the incident during the Austrian GP
- Horner has come under a lot of criticism in recent months, but he is still the boss
- McLaren starting to become more competitive with Verstappen and Red Bull
According to McLaren boss Zak Brown, Red Bull is ‘afraid’ of Max Verstappen.
Verstappen has dominated Formula 1 for years, winning the last three world championships and currently leading the 2024 standings with an 84-point lead.
However, his dominance has waned in recent races as drivers such as Lando Norris, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton began to put pressure on the Dutchman at the front of the grid.
Matters came to a head at the Austrian Grand Prix on June 30, when Norris and Verstappen collided while battling for the lead, ruining both races. Verstappen was given a penalty for the incident but refused to accept the blame.
Now Norris boss Zak Brown has launched a verbal attack on Verstappen’s Red Bull team, insisting, via The independentthat it is the Dutchman who calls the shots in the paddock.
Red Bull is ‘afraid’ of Max Verstappen (photo), says McLaren boss Zak Brown
Christian Horner (left), pictured with his wife Geri Haliwell, held by his driver after his crash with Lando Norris
Meanwhile, McLaren boss Brown appeared to blame Horner for suggesting Verstappen had done nothing wrong
“It seems like Red Bull is afraid of Max,” he began. “We are very honest with our drivers. If no one tells him that what he did was not within the rules, why would he think differently?
‘But when Christian comes on the radio and puts the problem directly to Lando, who are you kidding? Everyone saw it. The rules are very clear, you have to keep to the width of a car. He didn’t. Why did he have to say anything? It just felt completely inappropriate.’
Horner has been the subject of much criticism in recent months, beginning with an investigation into an allegation of ‘coercive behaviour’, of which he has since been acquitted.
He has also come into conflict with Verstappen’s father, Jos, and his long-standing rivalry with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff could flare up again as the drivers improve.
Horner’s team were also criticised for going over budget for 2021 and were fined just over £5 million for the rule breach, as well as for the restrictions surrounding testing.
Norris (pictured) and McLaren have become more competitive with Verstappen and Red Bull in recent months
Brown admitted he seems to have ‘more problems’ with Horner than with other team bosses in Formula 1
However, Brown is no fan of his and was not afraid to hide what he thinks of the 50-year-old.
“I speak out about issues,” Brown said. “I seem to have more issues with him than with others because he says and does things that I think are wrong.
‘It’s less about us getting at each other’s throats and fighting because we weren’t competing with each other during the cost cap. I just felt that the integrity of the cost cap was crucial to the success of Formula 1 and if it wasn’t taken seriously it would damage the sport forever.
“I was trying to protect the integrity of the sport and they didn’t take it seriously. That’s why I spoke up.”