Zak Brown intensifies push for FIA to crack down on multi-team ownership

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has stepped up his campaign against multi-team ownership in Formula 1, submitting a formal letter to the FIA calling for a complete ban on cross-ownership, strategic alliances, and any shared structures between rival entries. The move comes amid renewed scrutiny following Mercedes' interest in a potential stake in Alpine, though Brown insists his concerns are not directed at any single team.

Why it matters:

Brown argues that the current regulatory framework—designed to create a level playing field through cost controls and independent competition—is being undermined by arrangements that allow teams to share personnel, technical resources, and even influence sporting outcomes. With the sport enjoying its most competitive era, he warns that failing to address these structural issues risks reversing hard-won progress.

The details:

• Brown's letter cites specific examples, including Racing Bulls taking the fastest lap at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix with Daniel Ricciardo, which denied McLaren a championship point during Lando Norris's title fight with Max Verstappen.
• He also highlights faster staff movement between Red Bull-linked organisations compared to the longer gardening leave restrictions faced by independent teams, and shared access to wind tunnels and software systems.
• Brown calls for all existing alliances to be unwound over time while preventing new ones from forming, and expresses openness to further discussions with the FIA.
• The McLaren chief praised the FIA and Liberty Media for creating 11 healthy teams in a cost-controlled environment, stating that addressing this final structural issue would set F1 on an even stronger course.

What's next:

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has previously acknowledged the issue is under review, noting the complexity of team ownership structures and their potential impact on fairness. Brown's formal submission raises the pressure on the governing body to take action, potentially leading to new regulations that would force greater separation between affiliated teams. Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Brown made clear his position applies across the entire grid: "I don't think it's healthy for the sport. But it's not personal or towards any one team or individual."