Will courtenay

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown: McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has broken his silence on the dramatic dismissal of Christian Horner as Red Bull team principal, saying he was “not surprised” by the decision, though the timing caught him off guard.

Horner, who had led Red Bull since their Formula 1 debut in 2005, was officially sacked on July 9, just three days after Max Verstappen finished fifth at the British Grand Prix. The team has not provided a reason for his dismissal, but the exit ends a period of escalating tension and controversy for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Speaking to Canadian broadcaster TSN, Brown said: “I'm maybe [surprised by] the timing, but not the result.