Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri, both under the ownership of the Red Bull energy drink company, have become the focal point of McLaren CEO Zak Brown’s call for the prohibition of such dual-team ownership in Formula 1.
In a public letter released on Thursday, Brown voiced his concerns about what he perceives as an “unhealthy situation” and urged for corrective measures. While refraining from directly naming Red Bull or its sister team AlphaTauri, the only teams in F1 with shared ownership, Brown underscored the need for addressing issues affecting fairness and competition in the sport.
Brown emphasized the importance of revising regulations to prevent influence and collaboration between teams, particularly through shared ownership or strategic alliances. He argued that such arrangements, whether involving data sharing, personnel interchange, or strategic voting, are contrary to the principles of fairness and independence that should govern Formula 1. Brown advocated for the sport to maintain its integrity, with each team, excluding power units, being entirely independent of one another.
The McLaren CEO’s letter coincides with Red Bull’s efforts to strengthen collaboration with AlphaTauri, a team that has faced challenges in recent years. While Red Bull asserts its adherence to existing regulations and denies any wrongdoing, Brown had previously expressed reservations about the potential pitfalls of common ownership in F1. He stressed the need for ongoing scrutiny of the sport’s governance, particularly concerning technical alliances.
In summary, Zak Brown’s open letter calls for a ban on dual-team ownership in Formula 1, citing concerns about the impact on competition and fairness. Brown argues for regulatory changes to safeguard the independence of each team and prevent the spread of influence through strategic alliances or shared ownership models.