Zak Brown takes FIA fight over Mercedes-Alpine F1 talks public

TL;DR

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, publicly opposes Mercedes acquiring a stake in Alpine, citing concerns over team ownership structures in F1. He has sent a detailed letter to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem outlining his objections.

Key points

Zak Brown opposes Mercedes acquiring a stake in Alpine
Concerns about common ownership in Formula 1
Brown sent a six-page letter to FIA President
Issue has gained attention due to Mercedes-Alpine talks
Racing Bulls' ownership structure has been tolerated

Mentioned in this story

McLaren RacingMercedesAlpineZak BrownMohammed Ben Sulayem

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The McLaren Racing CEO has taken a clear stance against the prospect of Mercedes acquiring a shareholding in a second Formula 1 team. While the position of Racing Bulls has been tolerated due to a structure that dates back two decades, Brown believes this model should not be allowed to spread over the medium to long term.

Multiple sources confirm Zak Brown has reportedly sent a six-page letter to Mohammed Ben Sulayem outlining his concerns over common ownership of multiple teams competing in the Formula One World Championship. The issue is not new, but it has returned to the spotlight in recent weeks following reports that Mercedes is interested in acquiring the 24 percent minority stake in Alpine that investment fund Otro Capital is understood to be preparing to sell.

The McLaren Racing chief executive has put in writing a position he has voiced on several occasions, reiterating his concerns about alliances between teams that share a common shareholder.

During a recent press conference at the McLaren Technology Centre, Brown cited specific examples, including the absence of gardening leave restrictions between teams under the same ownership structure, such as Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. Formula 1 has accepted the existence of Red Bull's satellite team for many years, but that arrangement was created in a very different era. The deal that led to the creation of Scuderia Toro Rosso dates back more than 20 years.

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Q&A

What are Zak Brown's concerns about Mercedes acquiring a stake in Alpine?

Zak Brown is worried that common ownership of multiple F1 teams could lead to conflicts of interest and undermine the integrity of the competition.

What did Zak Brown communicate to the FIA regarding team ownership?

He sent a six-page letter to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressing his concerns about the implications of teams sharing common shareholders.

Why is the issue of team ownership in F1 being discussed now?

The discussion has resurfaced due to reports of Mercedes' interest in acquiring a 24 percent stake in Alpine, prompting renewed scrutiny of ownership structures in Formula 1.