McLaren has issued its demand – and Red Bull its response to the F1 powers that be.
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has indicated that the team is open to additional measures to guarantee the independence of all 11 teams, in response to a letter from Zak Brown to the FIA. Brown, the McLaren CEO, has been pushing to prohibit dual-team ownership in F1 and has contacted FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem regarding the issue. Presently, nine out of the 11 F1 teams are owned by distinct entities, with Red Bull GmbH owning the remaining two teams – Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. Although this ownership structure has been in place since 2006, Brown argues that close relationships between the teams should be banned, similar to regulations in other sports like football. Mekies defended Red Bull’s position, acknowledging the importance of independence in racing and expressing willingness to abide by stricter regulations if necessary. Red Bull supports efforts to ensure that all teams compete on the track independently, regardless of current partnerships or ownership structures, emphasizing the need for continual progress and commitment to maintaining fair competition in the sport.
