McLaren Racing chief govt officer Zak Brown says he was “not shocked” Christian Horner was sacked as staff boss of Pink Bull.
Horner was dismissed as staff principal and CEO of Pink Bull on 9 July, three days after their driver Max Verstappen completed fifth within the British Grand Prix.
Brown instructed Canadian tv channel TSN: “I am perhaps [surprised by] the timing, however not the outcome.
“There’s been lots of drama there the final couple of years and it does not look like that drama has been calming down – perhaps been getting worse. So I am not shocked.”
Pink Bull has given no purpose for the removing of Horner, who has been changed by Frenchman Laurent Mekies, previously the principal of second staff Racing Bulls.
Horner had led the staff 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 inside investigations dismissed the allegations, which Horner has all the time denied.
Since then, Pink Bull have gone by means of 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 because of the allegations in opposition to 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 staff principal of Sauber, which subsequent 12 months is morphing into Audi’s manufacturing unit staff.
And in September Pink Bull head of technique Will Courtenay signed for McLaren. He’s presently being held to his contract and is predicted to affix his new staff sooner or later subsequent 12 months.
