Max Verstappen points finger at Zak Brown amid ‘dislike’ of F1 rival Christian Horner​

The rivalry between Red Bull and McLaren has engulfed the Formula 1 season, with team bosses Christian Horner and Zak Brown now in a public spat over FIA regulations

​The rivalry between Red Bull and McLaren has engulfed the Formula 1 season, with team bosses Christian Horner and Zak Brown now in a public spat over FIA regulations The rivalry between Red Bull and McLaren has engulfed the Formula 1 season, with team bosses Christian Horner and Zak Brown now in a public spat over FIA regulations   

A fired-up Max Verstappen has stoked the flames of Red Bull’s rivalry with McLaren by claiming that the two teams’ bosses ‘don’t like each other’.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner have this week been involved a fresh war of words over the latter’s controversial ride-height device. Complaints from Red Bull’s rivals forced Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, to step in and check the legality of the device, and Horner’s team have agreed a plan to make alterations to their car without being penalised.

Horner suggested that the FIA only intervened to satisfy the ‘paranoia’ and ‘moaning’ from rival teams such as McLaren. In response, before the investigation was concluded, Brown claimed that Red Bull’s explanation ‘didn’t stack up’ and warned Horner that his team would face ‘massive consequences’ if any rule breach was discovered.

The two teams’ on-track rivalry resumed this weekend ahead of the United States Grand Prix, where Red Bull’s reigning champion, Verstappen, will be hoping to extend his 54-point lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. The sides are also fighting to win the Constructors’ title, with McLaren currently ahead of Red Bull by 39 points.

Norris will start on pole after Verstappen earned a much-needed victory in Saturday’s Sprint race, and before fighting from second place, the Red Bull driver has made some inflammatory comments to turn up the heat in Austin, Texas. “It’s not necessarily McLaren, it’s more Zak,” Verstappen claimed via De Telegraaf when asked about the teams’ political battle.

“He doesn’t like Christian and vice versa, I think. But the fact that they don’t like each other is not my problem. I have a fine relationship with Zak. It’s not that we call each other, but I just saw him, and then it’s all good.”

The three-time world champion added on the controversy: “I’ll see and read about it, but after that, I’ll close it and go and watch MotoGP or something. I really don’t care.”

Get involved! Who’ll win the United States Grand Prix? Tell us your prediction in the comments section.

Mark Sutton/Getty Images)

Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto)

Verstappen’s comments come four weeks after Brown and Horner shared a flight home after the Singapore Grand Prix, with the McLaren boss posting a selfie of the pair and a curious caption. “Peace in F1 has been restored on flight home (where’s Netflix when you need them!)” Brown wrote on social media. “But the battle will continue on track. What an awesome sport!”

Norris gave his verdict on the ride-height issue earlier this week, saying: “I think it’s good that the FIA are doing such a thing [investigating]. There’s a difference between black and white stuff like this, and there’s a difference between [it being] Formula 1 and pushing the boundaries and creating new things and innovating within the space that you allowed to innovate.

“I think that’s what we, as McLaren, have done a very good job in but we’re sure not to go any further than that.”

Verstappen could well’ve been on pole had it not been for George Russell’s crash late in Q3 which curtailed the session and kept Norris in P1. “That’s how it goes, we’re still on the front row,” Verstappen added.

“At least the potential was there to be first, so that’s very good. It seemed that we were competitive, so we made some minor changes on the car which felt nice. hope that that will be also positive for tomorrow.”

​Mirror – Sport