McLaren’s Zak Brown Insists Max Verstappen Is “Too Aggressive” on the track

Zak Brown made a shocking claim that Max Verstappen was too aggressive at times and got his elbows out unnecessarily.

McLaren’s Zak Brown Insists Max Verstappen Is “Too Aggressive” on the track

Max Verstappen (via Red Bull), Zak Brown (via F1)

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Max Verstappen has remained one of the more impressive drivers on the F1 grid amid Red Bull’s struggling times. The Dutchman achieved a great turnaround in pace despite the Austrian constructor’s tumultuous pace. Now, despite Verstappen’s impressive form, McLaren Racing’s CEO, Zak Brown, speaks candidly on the 28-year-old and his driving style.

Zak Brown is one of the very few people who don’t speak highly of Max Verstappen. The Dutchman even responded sarcastically to Brown following his dominant title win back in 2024. Now, as Verstappen loses his only chance to contend for the driver’s title against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in 2025, the CEO takes a look back at the aggressive moments that the reigning world champion has had on the track.

Speaking on Max Verstappen’s unique driving style, Zak Brown initially pointed out that he did not want to disparage the former or strip him of his achievements. The Englishman acknowledged that the 28-year-old was a four-time champion for a reason and deserved the title wins. However, Brown reckoned that Verstappen was a bruiser at times, claiming that he was sometimes too aggressive on track.

Zak Brown continued that Max Verstappen’s arrogance comes out on the track at times. The 54-year-old accepted that some of the greats in Formula 1 had a certain arrogance in them and got their elbows out while racing on track. As such, even Verstappen was deserving to be among the greats in the pinnacle of motorsport, and his driving style more than proved why he deserved such an honorable title.

I don’t want to disparage Max…. He’s a four-time world champion. He can be a bruiser, too aggressive on track. His arrogance comes out. If you look at some of the greatest champions in Formula 1, they’ve had some arrogance about them. They get their elbows out.

Zak Brown told The Telegraph.

Zak Brown claims Max Verstappen ‘crosses the line’ on track sometimes

Zak Brown did not hesitate to talk negatively about Max Verstappen and his form in recent times despite his results. Though the reigning world champion has massive admirers in the sport, many like Brown believe otherwise, and rightly so. Verstappen is certainly not in Formula 1 to please anyone or make friends, as evidenced by his comments in the past.

Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris (via Planetf1)
Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris (via Planetf1)

However, Zak Brown raised concerns about the fact that Max Verstappen crossed the line on track at times. When pushed for a specific instance, Brown recalled that the 28-year-old was particularly aggressive against Lewis Hamilton at the Brazil GP. Notably, Verstappen achieved a podium finish after starting from the pit lane, and hence, his aggression all paid off well in the end.

Max has crossed the line on track at times. In Brazil against Lewis Hamilton over time. A handful of his passes on Lewis were overly aggressive.

Zak Brown noted.

Regardless of the positive or negative comments by the people, Max Verstappen isn’t looking to change himself or his driving style anytime soon. The four-time F1 champion is a racer through and through, and his passion surpasses all other things. Now that the championship battle seems done and dusted for Verstappen in 2025, he will soon shift his focus to the upcoming season and the new regulations by then.

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