McLaren CEO Zak Brown said Christian Horner’s mid-season sacking as Red Bull team principal wasn’t a surprise, though the timing caught him off guard.Horner was removed on July 9, shortly after Max Verstappen’s fifth-place finish at the British Grand Prix. Brown noted ongoing drama at Red Bull in recent years, suggesting the situation has worsened. Red Bull gave no official reason for Horner's dismissal but replaced him with Laurent Mekies. This comes 17 months after Horner faced and denied misconduct allegations, which were later dismissed by internal investigations.The team has since seen a drop in performance and the exit of key figures like Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, and Will Courtenay.With Verstappen’s dominance fading and Mercedes rumors swirling, Red Bull now sits fourth in the constructors' standings, with only two wins in 12 races.