The chief executive of McLaren Racing has expressed firm opposition to the possibility of Mercedes obtaining ownership in another Formula 1 squad. Although the current arrangement involving Racing Bulls is tolerated due to its long-standing, two-decade history, Brown contends that this type of organizational setup should not be permitted to proliferate in the coming years.
It is understood that Zak Brown has forwarded a detailed six-page correspondence to Mohammed Ben Sulayem, detailing his apprehension regarding the shared ownership of several teams participating in the Formula One global championship. This particular concern is not novel, but it has gained renewed attention lately, prompted by news of Mercedes’ purported interest in purchasing the 24 percent minority share in Alpine, which the investment firm Otro Capital is reportedly gearing up to divest.
The head of McLaren Racing has formally documented a viewpoint he has frequently articulated, emphasizing his worries concerning partnerships among teams that are under a unified ownership structure.
At a recent media briefing held at the McLaren Technology Centre, Brown highlighted distinct instances, like the lack of mandatory ‘gardening leave’ periods for personnel moving between teams with shared ownership, specifically mentioning Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. Formula 1 has, for an extended period, acknowledged Red Bull’s junior team, yet this particular setup originated in a vastly different period. The agreement that established Scuderia Toro Rosso was formulated over two decades ago.
The caution issued by Brown chiefly seeks to halt the broad expansion of this organizational blueprint in the coming years. During comments made over the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Mohammed Ben Sulayem similarly recognized the imperative to establish regulations for a matter currently lacking explicit guidelines.
The potential for Mercedes to obtain an interest in Alpine F1 has sparked apprehension among individuals worried about the benefits that might arise from either direct or indirect oversight of an additional team.
Beyond the matter of gardening leave, Brown brought attention to various other delicate subjects, such as possible aid during races — referencing Daniel Ricciardo’s quickest lap at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix — the preservation of sporting fairness during discussions on regulations, and the pooling of assets. Brown depicts an environment within Formula 1 where teams lacking collaborative partnerships might face an inherent competitive handicap.
Considering other athletic domains, this discussion is by no means unique. Across Europe’s premier soccer competitions and the primary professional sports organizations in the United States, rules expressly forbid having ownership interests in more than one team.
Formula 1 has not yet tackled this subject comprehensively, but the current moment seems opportune for it to do so, thereby averting potentially contentious scenarios and the unavoidable disagreements they would provoke.
