McLaren CEO Zak Brown has claimed that his former Formula 1 adversary Christian Horner has “changed” after being exposed to fame and money.
The American enjoyed a particularly fractious and public rivalry with the ex-Red Bull Team Principal until the latter’s ousting after the British Grand Prix.
Horner’s polarising persona often put him in the ‘love him or hate him’ category, and at odds with other team bosses, such as Toto Wolff, with whom he also had a bitter rivalry.
But once Mercedes’ dominance fell away, it was Brown and McLaren that became the focus of a new F1 soap opera, which, like with Wolff, was seen on Netflix’s Drive to Survive series.
Horner’s personality often placed him centre stage on the show, which is partly a catalyst for a change in him, at least according to Brown.
“I’ve known Christian for 30-plus years,” he told The Telegraph. “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.”
Brown slams Horner’s allegations about McLaren
Brown did not stop there, likening Horner to a character like that of a driver who would “squeeze you four wheels off the track”.
The pair’s contention reached a higher level last year when McLaren was at the centre of suspicion around its management of tyre temperatures in comparison to other teams.
Such were the allegations that the FIA were even called in to inspect them, finding no evidence of wrongdoing by the Woking-based squad.
Brown was entirely convinced that Horner was the person at the centre of the initial allegations and had little faith in the 51-year-old truly believing them.
“He made allegations towards our team,” said Brown. “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.”
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