Zak Brown Pens Letter to FIA Challenging Red Bull's Multi-Team Ownership Model

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has sent a strongly worded letter to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, calling for tighter rules to prevent multi-team ownership from undermining F1's competitive fairness. The letter, seen by RacingNews365, highlights recent examples where Racing Bulls appeared to act in Red Bull Racing's favor.

Why it matters:

Multi-team ownership is banned in most major sports, but Red Bull GmbH currently controls both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. Brown argues this now threatens the integrity of a series where teams are financially stable—unlike the past when such arrangements helped keep struggling outfits afloat. The FIA president has signaled the governing body is actively looking into the issue.

The details:

• Singapore 2024: Racing Bulls pitted Daniel Ricciardo on the final lap to snatch the fastest lap from McLaren's Lando Norris, giving Max Verstappen a crucial bonus point that simplified his title path.
• Miami 2025: Racing Bulls instructed Liam Lawson to cede position to Verstappen after the Red Bull driver forced Lawson off track—an instruction that appeared designed to aid Verstappen's recovery.
• Personnel transfers: Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies moved to Red Bull in July 2025 with zero gardening leave, while McLaren's Rob Marshall required nine months after leaving Red Bull. Brown notes this "reinforces the perception that internal firewalls are not operating" as they would between independent competitors.
• Potential advantages: Brown claims dual-ownership teams could share wind-tunnel and software development benefits, further skewing the competitive balance.

What's next:

Ben Sulayem has confirmed the FIA is examining whether multiple team ownership is permissible or ethical. Brown welcomes further discussions, and the outcome could reshape how F1's ownership structures are regulated ahead of the 2026 regulation overhaul.