McLaren CEO Zak Brown warns of "toxic" environment at Red Bull

In a candid assessment, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has raised concerns about the atmosphere within the Red Bull Racing team. He described it as "pretty toxic" amid high-profile departures and uncertainties surrounding key personnel.

Brown's comments come in the wake of Adrian Newey's announcement of his impending exit from Red Bull Racing in the first quarter of 2025. It is a decision that has stirred speculations about the team's internal dynamics. "Red Bull is a pretty toxic environment right now. There is more to come”, stated Brown.

Brown further highlighted the unsettling situation, mentioning an influx of CVs from Red Bull employees. He indicated a level of discontent within the team, a sentiment echoed by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. "Newey's departure is an important one because I think a lot of people at Red Bull started working with him. I already mentioned that resumes were circulating," Brown commented.

McLaren’s boss hints concern about Red Bull’s future

The McLaren boss also expressed concerns about Red Bull's future with sponsors, suggesting that the team's current situation might affect future partnerships. Brown further pointed out that the ongoing drama surrounding Verstappen's future has further destabilized Red Bull. "You have the whole Verstappen drama. Is he staying or is he leaving?" Brown remarked.

Notably, amidst the turmoil the future of Red Bull's star driver Max Verstappen remains uncertain, despite his contract until 2028. Verstappen has been linked with Mercedes, especially with positive developments around their 2026 F1 power unit.

While acknowledging Red Bull as a great racing team, Brown suggested that recent events might have destabilized them. He emphasized McLaren and Ferrari's momentum but noted that circumstances in Formula 1 can change rapidly. "As I said, they are an incredible team, just by my reasoning, they are not as strong as they used to be. Things can change quickly though, so we have to keep both feet on the ground,” Brown concluded.