LONDON, July 22 -- McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown said Christian Horner's sacking as Red Bull team principal was not unexpected, but conceded that he was taken aback by the mid-season removal.

Horner was dismissed on July 9, just three days after Red Bull driver Max Verstappen finished fifth in the British Grand Prix.

"I'm maybe [surprised by] the timing, but not the result," Brown told Canadian broadcaster TSN.

He added: "There's been a lot of drama there the last couple of years and it doesn't seem like that drama has been calming down - maybe been getting worse."

Red Bull did not give a reason for Horner's departure, replacing him with Frenchman Laurent Mekies, who previously led sister team Racing Bulls.

Horner's remova...