McLaren CEO Zak Brown has expressed his support for Christian Horner's potential return to Formula 1, stating he would be "shocked" if the former Red Bull team principal does not make a comeback. Horner, who was sacked by Red Bull last summer after two decades of unprecedented success, is reportedly eyeing a route back into the sport. During his tenure, he led the team to 14 world championships, establishing himself as one of the most accomplished figures in F1 history.
Horner's Potential Destinations
Horner has been linked with several teams, including Alpine, Aston Martin, and even Ferrari. Notably, he is part of a consortium that has bid for a minority stake in Alpine, alongside a competing pitch from Mercedes. This has fueled speculation about his next move, with many in the paddock expecting him to return in a senior role.
Brown's Endorsement
Despite a fractious history between the two, Brown spoke warmly of Horner at a McLaren media event on Wednesday. "Christian was a great personality for the sport," said the American. "They come and go. It'd be great to have Christian back in the sport. He's a great operator." Brown added, "I'd rather have 10 weak team principals, but that's not going to happen anytime soon! It'd be great to have him back." He concluded, "I'm sure given his passion… I'd be shocked if he wasn't back in the sport."
Brown's Critique of A/B Teams
Brown also used the opportunity to reiterate his long-standing opposition to the concept of "A/B teams" in Formula 1, particularly in light of Mercedes' interest in Alpine and Red Bull's existing two-team structure with Racing Bulls. He argued that such arrangements compromise sporting integrity. "In today's day and age, if that's permitted, I think it runs a real high risk of compromising the integrity of sporting fairness," Brown said. He warned that fans could be turned off if they do not perceive 11 independent racing teams.
Examples of Unfair Advantage
Brown cited specific instances where he believes the system has been exploited, such as Daniel Ricciardo taking the fastest lap point away from McLaren in the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix to benefit the other Red Bull team. He also pointed to intellectual property violations involving Aston Martin and Racing Point, as well as employee movements between Ferrari and Haas. "Can you imagine a Premier League game where you've got two teams owned by the same group - one's going to get relegated if they lose, and the other can afford to lose? That's what we run the risk of," he said.
Brown emphasized that his stance applies universally: "A and B teams, co-ownership, regardless of who it is, I frown upon it. I don't think it's healthy for the sport."
Formula 1 returns with the Miami Grand Prix, round four of the 2026 season, on 1-3 May.
