McLaren boss Zak Brown has launched a sharp critique at Red Bull, accusing the team of running their Formula 1 operation in a way that revolves almost entirely around Max Verstappen. Brown argues that the structure in Milton Keynes has become “unfair,” with the organisation functioning like Verstappen’s personal kingdom.
He pointed out that Verstappen has been Red Bull’s only consistent source of success in recent seasons. Since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure, the performance gap between Verstappen and every teammate has grown dramatically, raising questions about whether the team environment is truly balanced.
This year alone, Verstappen has delivered nearly all of Red Bull’s points. Out of the team’s full tally, only 25 points have come from Yuki Tsunoda across 19 races—an average of fewer than two points per weekend. Brown believes this lopsided contribution highlights a deeper, structural problem within the outfit.
Brown also revisited Red Bull’s decision-making in the driver market. He referenced the team’s refusal to sign Carlos Sainz, who became available after Ferrari replaced him with Lewis Hamilton. Brown insists Sainz was a clear and logical choice but claims Red Bull rejected the idea due to their Verstappen-centric culture.
With Ferrari facing more reliability drama and Hamilton describing his 2025 season as a “nightmare,” Brown’s comments add yet another layer of tension to an already intense paddock atmosphere.
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