McLaren boss Zak Brown: Christian Horner may be feeling ‘vulnerable’ at Red Bull

McLaren boss Zak Brown has claimed rival Christian Horner should be feeling “vulnerable” as Red Bull team principal.

McLaren arrived in China as the team to beat following Lando Norris’ impressive win in Australia, although Lewis Hamilton capitalised on an error by his compatriot to take a surprise pole position for Saturday’s sprint race.

Max Verstappen qualified second but the Red Bull star has taken just two victories from his last 15 appearances.

Horner has overseen eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships as Red Bull team principal, with Verstappen taking his fourth world crown in a row in 2024.

However, at the start of last season, Horner was accused by a female colleague of “inappropriate behaviour”. Horner was twice exonerated by Red Bull Racing’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH.

Brown, who last year steered McLaren to their first constructors’ championship in 26 years, told the PA news agency: “I would think any of us would come under pressure when you are not performing at the highest level, on-track, off-track, with sponsors, relationships, and brands.

“If I went to the F1 launch and I wasn’t welcomed (Horner was booed), and I came back to the table and I am sitting next to the CMO of our sponsors’ OKX and Mastercard, that is not a great look.

“You have got the Red Bull GmbH managing director (Oliver Mintzlaff) sitting there. And then you have got the Verstappens who don’t seem to have a great relationship (with Horner), from the outside looking in.

“(Technical director) Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall (who joined McLaren from Red Bull as chief designer) and (sporting director) Jonathan Wheatley have all left and if I was in that position, I would feel vulnerable.

“When I go and meet my board, I