Zak Brown targets Red Bull: “F1’s integrity is at stake”

Zak Brown has sent a letter to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem calling for a ban on the same owner holding multiple Formula 1 teams, directly targeting Red Bull's ownership of both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. The McLaren CEO warns that the sport risks taking a step backward in integrity and fairness.

Why it matters:

Brown's move challenges a long-standing structural feature of F1, where Red Bull has operated two teams with shared resources. If successful, it could force Red Bull to divest one of its outfits and reshape the competitive landscape, especially as other alliances like Mercedes' partial Alpine stake also draw scrutiny.

The details:

• Brown's letter cites specific incidents: Daniel Ricciardo's fastest lap for Racing Bulls in the 2024 Singapore GP took a point from McLaren, helping Max Verstappen in his title fight with Lando Norris. In the 2025 Miami GP, Liam Lawson let Verstappen pass without resistance.
• Staff movement between the two Red Bull teams without gardening leave is another sore point, citing Laurent Mekies' move to became Verstappen's team principal.
• Brown calls for unwinding existing alliances: "We need to eliminate any further alliances… and start the process of unwinding those already established."

What's next:

The FIA has yet to respond publicly. Mercedes, Red Bull, and Racing Bulls oppose the proposal, arguing it threatens existing investments and operational models. Brown remains confident that total parity can be achieved, but the path forward is uncertain as the sport's governing body weighs the letter against strong opposition from key teams.