Brown delivers withering Red Bull takedown

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has questioned Red Bull's integrity as he feels there has been a "lack of respect" shown by the team across multiple fronts. 

The 52-year-old did not mince his words when addressing enabling behaviour within the team that may have contributed to Max Verstappen's emboldened style of wheel-to-wheel racing.

It appeared the American was calling out remarks made by both Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, not to mention drawing upon controversies surrounding the Milton Keynes team - both past and present.

Brown, who repeated the sentiment of comments made earlier in the day, shined a spotlight on what he felt were "missed opportunities" by the stewards to take action, before moving on to address Red Bull's part in the situation.

"Also disappointed that such a great team like Red Bull, that the leadership almost encourages it [robust defensive tactics during close racing] because you listen on the radio and what was said," he told media including RacingNews365.

"We all have a responsibility on pit wall to tell our drivers the do's and don'ts and what's going on in the race, and so I think we need to have respect for regulations and we've seen there be [a] lack of respect.

"Whether it's financial regulations or sporting, on-track, issues with fathers and things of that nature."

Verstappen racing standards could have been 'addressed earlier'

Brown's comments supported claims made by McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who invoked the titanic title fight between Verstappen and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in 2021. 

The American contended that had Red Bull, and the stewards, taken steps to address the Dutchman's on-track behaviour - and clarify the rules surrounding moving under braking - earlier, the situation at the Red Bull Ring could have been avoided.

"I just don't think that's how we need to go racing and we need to guide our drivers on what's right or wrong," he said.

"And I think had it been addressed earlier maybe that incident wouldn't have taken place. So racing incident that I think could have been avoided if the pit wall and the stewards had maybe been more on top of what the regulations say you can and can't do."