Zak Brown Reiterates Opposition to A/B Teams Amid Mercedes-Alpine Deal Talks

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has reaffirmed his long-standing criticism of co-owned 'A/B teams' in Formula 1, stating his concerns are about sporting integrity and not directed personally at any individual or team. His comments come amid confirmed negotiations for Mercedes to purchase a 24% stake in the Alpine F1 team from Otro Capital, a move that could create another dual-ownership structure in the sport.

Why it matters:

Brown's stance highlights a fundamental tension in modern F1 between team alliances and competitive fairness. As the sport's financial and technical landscape evolves, the potential for one entity to influence multiple teams raises significant questions about the integrity of on-track competition and could, in Brown's view, risk alienating fans who expect to see ten truly independent constructors battling each Sunday.

The Details:

• Brown's criticism is not new but has been amplified by recent events, including Mercedes's potential investment in Alpine and on-track incidents involving existing A/B team relationships.
• He cites the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix as a key example, where Racing Bulls' Daniel Ricciardo took a late soft-tyre run to claim the fastest lap point, denying it to McLaren's Lando Norris, who was battling Red Bull's Max Verstappen for the championship.
• Beyond Sporting Moves: Brown argues the issues extend to technical and personnel advantages. He references the 2020 'Pink Mercedes' controversy involving Racing Point (now Aston Martin) and Ferrari-Haas, where employees and intellectual property can move between allied teams with minimal restriction, creating what he sees as an unfair financial and sporting edge.
• The Premier League Analogy: Brown uses a powerful comparison, asking fans to imagine a scenario where two football clubs owned by the same group play each other, with one facing relegation. He believes F1 runs a similar risk of compromised competition.
• Defining the Limit: The McLaren CEO believes engine supplier relationships should be the extent of collaboration, advocating for all eleven teams to operate as independently as possible to preserve the sport's credibility.

What's next:

The outcome of the Mercedes-Alpine stake negotiations will be a critical test case. If the deal proceeds, it will add another major manufacturer to the list of entities with influence over multiple teams, potentially intensifying the debate. Brown's vocal opposition ensures the topic of team co-ownership and its regulations will remain a hot-button issue in Formula 1's corridors of power, with the FIA and FOM likely to face continued pressure to define and enforce clearer boundaries to safeguard the sport's competitive integrity.