Red Bull accused of playing dirty: Zak Brown highlights incidents involving Hamilton and McLaren. Zak Brown criticises Red Bull for allegedly using dirty tactics.

Red Bull is once again at the centre of controversy after Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, claimed that the team has used “dirty tactics” in the past. According to Brown, several questionable episodes involving Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton and McLaren deserve renewed attention, especially those linked to the heated 2021 title fight between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, as well as a more recent situation that unfolded last season.

Brown’s comments also touched on Christian Horner, who has now left the team after years of leadership at Red Bull. The McLaren boss suggested that Horner did not always compete in a completely fair manner, pointing to incidents that he considers quite clear. Brown explained that his relationship with Christian Horner dates back 30 years, but said it has changed significantly since the release and global success of the Netflix series “Drive to Survive”.

The titles won with Max Verstappen

During an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Zak Brown discussed Red Bull’s approach to racing. When asked whether the team “races dirty”, Brown replied: “I don’t want to discredit Max… He is a four-time World Champion.” He added that Verstappen can be an aggressive fighter on track and said: “That’s where his arrogance comes out.”

The 2021 battle with Lewis Hamilton remains at the centre of many of these discussions. Zak Brown pointed to the infamous moment in Brazil, saying: “Max crossed the line on track at times. In Brazil against Lewis Hamilton. Over the years, a handful of his overtakes on Lewis have been excessively aggressive.” The reference concerns the duel in which Verstappen ran off the track, bringing the Mercedes driver with him as Lewis Hamilton attempted to complete the overtake. Hamilton eventually managed to get past, but Verstappen’s defence went beyond what is allowed by the regulations. Brown insisted that, in his view, the driver of the number 44 car “should already be an eight-time World Champion”.

Horner’s accusations against McLaren

Brown also revisited a tense episode between the two teams last season, when McLaren and Red Bull were fighting closely in the standings. “Sometimes Horner doesn’t play clean,” Brown said. He continued by comparing racing styles: “When I raced, there were drivers who pushed hard and forced their rivals slightly off the track with two wheels, and that’s fine. But there are other drivers who push you off with all four wheels. That’s not fine. I’m a two-wheels guy. Christian is a four-wheels guy.”

The example Brown highlighted as “dirty play” from Horner was the moment Red Bull publicly suggested that McLaren might have been adding water inside the tyres to help control temperatures. This occurred during the final part of last season, when Lando Norris still had a slim chance of challenging Verstappen for the title. Brown maintained that the accusation was entirely unfounded and was raised only to destabilise McLaren as the battle entered its crucial phase.