McLaren CEO Zak Brown has taken another step forward in his mission to end sister teams in Formula 1. The American has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with multi-team setups in the premier class, mainly targeting Red Bull and Racing Bulls. Brown is now taking the next step with his sharp letter to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
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McLaren CEO Zak Brown has spoken out several times in the past about sister teams in Formula 1. Initially, the American mainly targeted Red Bull and Racing Bulls – both part of the Red Bull family – but he also expressed concerns about Mercedes’ interest in Alpine shares. “A/B teams, co-ownership, no matter who it is, I disapprove,” was Brown’s clear opinion.
Letter to the FIA President
The American CEO is now taking the next step and has sent a letter to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. This was reported, among others, by The Race. Brown reportedly acknowledges in the six-page letter that so-called ‘A/B teams’ once served a legitimate purpose when most racing teams were still financially unstable. Meanwhile, many Formula 1 teams are worth billions, making sister teams no longer necessary in the premier class.
In the letter, Brown would also explain how shared infrastructure, wind tunnels, and development facilities create unfair advantages. As an example, the CEO cites the move of team principal Laurent Mekies from Racing Bulls to Red Bull, where the usual competition restrictions and gardening leave did not apply. Brown calls for banning future sister teams and gradually dismantling existing structures. Only in this way can Formula 1, according to the American, guarantee full independence within the premier class. Brown would like to sit down with the FIA President to discuss the matter further.
Ben Sulayem himself has also previously expressed that he is not a fan of multi-team setups. “I don’t fully support this,” the Emirati said earlier in Miami.
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