McLaren Racing chief govt officer Zak Brown says he was “not stunned” Christian Horner was sacked as group boss of Pink Bull.
Horner was dismissed as group principal and CEO of Pink Bull on 9 July, three days after their driver Max Verstappen completed fifth within the British Grand Prix.
Brown informed Canadian tv channel TSN: “I am perhaps [surprised by] the timing, however not the consequence.
“There’s been plenty of drama there the final couple of years and it would not appear to be that drama has been calming down – perhaps been getting worse. So I am not stunned.”
Pink Bull has given no cause for the elimination of Horner, who has been changed by Frenchman Laurent Mekies, previously the principal of second group Racing Bulls.
Horner had led the group since their debut in 2005. His departure got here 17 months after it emerged {that a} feminine worker had accused him of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour. Two separate Pink Bull inner investigations dismissed the allegations, which Horner has all the time denied.
Since then, Pink Bull have gone by a tempestuous interval, together with a decline of their competitiveness.
Their chief technical officer Adrian Newey resigned in April final 12 months, a minimum of partly on account of the allegations towards Horner. Newey – considered the best F1 designer in historical past – now works for Aston Martin.
In July final 12 months, long-time sporting director Jonathan Wheatley additionally resigned. He’s now group principal of Sauber, which subsequent 12 months is morphing into Audi’s manufacturing unit group.
And in September Pink Bull head of technique Will Courtenay signed for McLaren. He’s at the moment being held to his contract and is anticipated to hitch his new group in some unspecified time in the future subsequent 12 months.
