Zak Brown Says F1 Misses Christian Horner, Believes He'll Return

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has acknowledged that Formula 1 misses the presence of former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner, stating he believes the controversial figure will eventually return to the sport.

Why it matters:

Horner was a dominant and polarizing force in the F1 paddock for over two decades, shaping Red Bull into a championship-winning powerhouse. His absence creates a void in the sport's character-driven narrative, which Brown argues is essential to F1's appeal. The comments highlight the ongoing discussion about leadership, personality, and drama within the pinnacle of motorsport.

The details:

• In a talkSPORT interview, Brown called Horner an "unbelievable team boss," while acknowledging that "things went sideways the last couple of years."
• He emphasized that a mix of characters—"good guys, bad guys, all different"—is what makes the sport fascinating, suggesting Horner's unique persona contributed to that ecosystem.
• Brown's assessment comes weeks after Horner's abrupt dismissal from Red Bull following the British Grand Prix, ending a tenure that began in 2005.
• The departure followed a period of underwhelming results and internal challenges at the team, though no single official reason was given publicly.

Between the lines:

Brown's candid remarks stand in contrast to the sharper criticism from other team bosses, most notably Mercedes' Toto Wolff, who previously took a swipe at Horner's "power-hungry" nature. Brown's focus on the sport missing a "character" frames Horner's exit more as a loss of paddock color and rivalry than a simple management change. It subtly underscores the tension in F1 between corporate professionalism and the larger-than-life personalities that drive fan engagement and media headlines.

What's next:

Brown predicted that Horner "will be back" in some capacity, though the form of that return remains unclear. Whether in a leadership role with a new team, a media position, or another venture within motorsport, Horner's next move will be closely watched. His potential return would instantly reignite old rivalries and add a significant layer of intrigue to the F1 narrative.