FIA president Ben Sulayem opposes multi-team ownership in Formula 1

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has come out against multi-ownership structures in Formula 1, just as Mercedes is linked with a potential 24% minority stake in Alpine. The shares, currently held by Otro Capital, have also reportedly attracted interest from Christian Horner.

Why it matters:

The debate over cross-team ownership threatens to reshape F1's governance and competitive balance. As team alliances grow closer—through power unit deals, shared investors, or equity stakes—the risk of conflicts of interest rises, potentially undermining the fairness fans expect. The FIA's stance could influence future regulations and how teams are permitted to operate.

The details:

• Ben Sulayem's position: In remarks to Reuters, the FIA president said minority investments are acceptable "as long as you are not trying to take it because you don't want others to take it, or also get voting power when it comes to the regulations." However, he added: "I do believe that owning two is not the right way… we are looking into that because it's a complicated area."
• Mercedes-Alpine context: Mercedes began a power unit supply partnership with Alpine this year. Toto Wolff denied any rivalry with Horner over the stake, calling the idea "made up" and insisting the move is not linked to blocking competitors.
• Zak Brown's warning: The McLaren CEO, a longtime critic of multi-ownership, warned that increasingly close ties between teams risk undermining sporting integrity. He cited examples of apparent on-track favors, intellectual property controversies, and staff movements that gain cost cap advantages. Brown compared it to football, questioning how two teams under shared ownership could compete fairly.

What's next:

The FIA continues to evaluate the legal and regulatory implications of multi-team ownership. While Ben Sulayem offered a personal opinion, any formal rule changes would require broader consensus within the sport. With Alpine's stake still unresolved, the issue is likely to remain a hot topic in paddock discussions ahead of the 2025 season.