Zak Brown claims Red Bull is 'terrified' of Verstappen.

      "They are afraid of losing him."

      As the championship battle approaches a critical moment in Las Vegas, new excerpts from Zak Brown’s forthcoming book have renewed his ongoing critique of Max Verstappen’s authority at Red Bull. Just days after stating to The Telegraph that Verstappen can be "a bully" whose "arrogance comes through" during races, the McLaren CEO targets Verstappen once more in Seven Tenths Of A Second.

      "The other instance is Max Verstappen’s dominance at Red Bull. I use 'dominance' intentionally," Brown notes. "At times, it genuinely feels like Max is in charge of the team. Everyone appears to be subordinate to him. Everyone seems to be intimidated by him."

      Brown claims that the car is so specifically designed for Verstappen that "it appears challenging for anyone else to drive it properly," and contends that Red Bull intentionally avoids recruiting strong teammates. "Red Bull typically does not opt for a second driver who would be a threat to Max - otherwise Carlos Sainz would have been a clear choice for 2025," the American asserts.

      While also acknowledging Verstappen as "an exceptional driver," Brown suggests the team has become reliant on ensuring his contentment. "They are scared of losing him, and their strategy to prevent that is to prioritize his happiness above everything else," he adds. "If this leads to becoming a one-driver team, a driver’s own little kingdom, they are prepared to accept that."

      Contrasting this mindset with McLaren’s philosophy, Brown states, "That’s not the direction I want to take at McLaren. That sort of inequity, that suppression of competition, is not aligned with our company values."