P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Formula 1 should encourage Red Bull to sell its second team and introduce measures to prevent common ownership of teams in the future, argues Edd Straw
In order to prevent common ownership of teams in the future, Formula 1 should encourage Red Bull to sell its second team. Recent criticism of Red Bull’s alliance with its second team is not the primary reason for this suggestion. Measures to prevent such situations are crucial for maintaining sporting integrity. The 2026 Concorde Agreement negotiations should include an agreement that prohibits the ownership of more than one team. Red Bull should not be forced to sell, but there should be pressure behind the scenes to ensure a suitable buyer is found. Multiple ownership in sports is prohibited in many other major sports, and it is particularly important in F1 due to the potential conflicts of interest. This would also eliminate suspicions of collusion and maintain the integrity of the sport. The wording of the prohibition would need to be precise to effectively prevent connected entities from circumventing the rule. However, overall, it shouldn’t be too difficult to implement an approval process for team ownership. Red Bull’s current ownership should be exempted given its pre-existing arrangement with the second team. Encouraging Red Bull to sell its second team would be fair, even if it is exempted, with the inclusion of joint ownership curbs in the ’26 Concorde Agreement.
