McLaren CEO Zak Brown dismisses Red Bull and pinpoints Ferrari as his most respected F1 team
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McLaren emerge as frontrunners to end Red Bull's reign as F1 constructors' champions. McLaren and Ferrari have positioned themselves as the teams involved in the battle to dethrone Red Bull and secure the 2024 Formula 1 constructors' championship. Red Bull, dominant in securing the last two titles, now find themselves in an unfamiliar position as underdogs heading into the new Formula 1 season.
As the paddock arrives in Qatar for this weekend's Grand Prix, McLaren holds a 24-point advantage over Ferrari at the top of the standings. However, their lead narrowed slightly following a challenging race in Las Vegas, where Lando Norris finished sixth and Oscar Piastri crossed the line in seventh.
Red Bull's struggles were even more pronounced, as Max Verstappen's fifth-place finish and Sergio Perez's tenth yielded just 11 points for the team, leaving them 53 points adrift of McLaren. While it remains possible for one of the leading teams to suffer a low-scoring weekend in the remaining rounds, Red Bull's recent form suggests this may not be enough to turn the tide in their favor.
Perez's performances have been a key concern, as the Mexican driver has managed just one top-six finish since the Miami Grand Prix in May. For instance, even if the Dutchman were to secure victory and Sergio Perez placed no higher than seventh, rival teams achieving second and third positions would still outscore them.
Despite their current challenges, Red Bull celebrated a significant milestone in Las Vegas, clinching their eighth drivers' championship in 20 seasons. Across their 391 races, the team has accumulated an impressive record of 121 wins, 103 pole positions, and 280 podium finishes.
Zak Brown praises Ferrari as McLaren's key rival
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown shared his admiration for Ferrari, suggesting he holds the legendary team in higher regard than Red Bull. Speaking on the *Business of Sport* podcast, Brown highlighted the prestige of Ferrari and McLaren, two of the sport's most iconic names, as this season's primary title contenders.
Ferrari remains the only team to have competed in over 1000 Grands Prix and leads in all-time statistics, including 31 combined championships and 248 wins. The Scuderia aims to end its title drought, which dates back to 2008.
McLaren, meanwhile, hasn't secured a constructors' championship since the late 1990s. In recent history, Mercedes dominated from 2014 to 2021, with Red Bull reclaiming the top spot in the subsequent years.
Despite their intense rivalry on track, McLaren and Ferrari have maintained a respectful relationship this season. Zak Brown himself playfully joined in on the celebrations after former McLaren driver Carlos Sainz's victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix, cheekily "photobombing" Ferrari's team photo in the pit lane.
"Which rival team do you respect most?" he was quizzed in a quickfire question round – "Ferrari," was his one-word reply – the McLaren chief executive officer replied.
Zak Brown's ongoing feud with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko fuels McLaren-Red Bull rivalry
Zak Brown's decision not to single out Red Bull for praise comes as little surprise, given his history of verbal clashes with key figures at the Milton Keynes-based team. The tension between McLaren and Red Bull reached new heights after the Austrian Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen collided with Lando Norris in the closing stages of the race.
Zak Brown was vocal in his criticism of Christian Horner, calling out the Red Bull team boss for what he described as "inappropriate" post-race radio comments that shifted the blame onto Norris. The McLaren CEO also took aim at Red Bull's handling of their 2021 cost cap breach, accusing them of disrespecting their competitors with their justifications.
Another chapter in this escalating rivalry unfolded in October, when Zak Brown publicly rebuked Helmut Marko for remarks he interpreted as a slight on Lando Norris's mental fortitude. Helmut Marko, in turn, accused Brown of misrepresenting his comments to stir up "unrest" within the paddock.
The friction hasn't been limited to verbal exchanges. Technical disputes have also fueled the animosity, most notably when McLaren was compelled to adjust their rear wing design following protests from Red Bull's camp. With the 2025 Formula One season set to proceed under largely stable regulations, these tensions are likely to persist, ensuring that the McLaren-Red Bull rivalry remains as intense off the track as it is on it.
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