McLaren CEO Zak Brown has offered his perspective on the possibility of long-term Formula 1 rival Christian Horner making a comeback in the sport.
Horner was removed from his role as Red Bull Team Principal and CEO after the British Grand Prix in July, bringing to an end two decades at the helm of the Milton Keynes outfit.
His official departure was confirmed in September, after he negotiated a severance package believed to be worth around £80 million. Reports suggest that the deal will permit Horner to return to the F1 paddock as early as 2026.
The 51-year-old has already been linked with several teams, including Alpine, Aston Martin and Haas, though no moves have been confirmed.
Brown praises Horner’s legacy despite past rivalry
Brown, who frequently clashed with Horner during their years as rivals, acknowledged the Briton’s contribution to the sport when asked about his future.
“I think he’s had a stellar career in Formula 1; his results are lots of Drivers’ championships, World Championships,” Brown told Bloomberg.
“I think when you get into sport, not everyone’s best friends, there’s different characters, so, while we may not have too many cups of tea in England, as we say, you need all different types of characters in the sport.”
Brown added: “I think that’s what makes the sport very exciting, that’s that kind of the Netflix effect, is what happens off the track. I think our sport’s unique in that not only is the competition on the field of play extremely exciting, there’s a lot of competition off the field of play.
“And it’s a small group of team bosses and drivers, so I think the fans can get to know us all. I’ve got my friends in pitlane and some that aren’t, but I think that’s what makes it exciting and it’s authentic and genuine.”
Whether Horner will indeed return to Formula 1 in 2026 remains to be seen, but Brown’s remarks highlight how, even after his departure, the former Red Bull boss continues to be a major talking point in the paddock.
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