Speaking to The Telegraph, the McLaren CEO stated that “the money and the glory” have ended up affecting the image of the former Red Bull team principal, while still acknowledging his significant sporting achievements and on-track successes.

“I’ve known Christian for 30-plus years - he said - We used to get on. His results are amazing. So, hats off. But he’s changed. I think the Drive to Survive fame, the money, the glory, all got a bit much.”

The American also believes that Horner’s conduct hasn’t always been entirely above board: “He made allegations towards our team. I can’t imagine he believed them. It was simply intended to disrupt us.”

Brown was referring to last year’s Brazilian GP, when Horner accused McLaren of injecting water into their tyres to control temperatures and gain a performance advantage.

“Regardless of legality, everyone in the sport knows you wouldn’t do that for technical reasons,” Brown further stressed.

Finally, Brown highlighted what he sees as the key difference between himself and Horner: the distinction between ego and arrogance: “I have a huge ego. Make no mistake. Ego is good. Arrogance is terrible. For me, ego is all about pride. It protects my brand and the team’s performance. Arrogance makes you make mistakes.”

The former F1 boss jokingly said he “wouldn’t rule out” the Leamington Spa manager moving to Ferrari, in response to remarks from president John Elkann.

In recent months, both he and Horner were rumored to be involved in a potential Alpine acquisition, though nothing really came of it.

Since parting ways with Red Bull last July, Horner has kept a low profile, making no public statements as he considers his next step for 2026.