Red Bull Concedes on Multi-Team Ownership Scrutiny, Open to Further Independence Rules

Red Bull has made a surprising concession amid growing scrutiny over multi-team ownership, with Laurent Mekies stating the energy drink giant would back further steps to guarantee sporting independence between F1's 11 teams — even while its parent company also controls Racing Bulls.

Why it matters:

The debate over strategic alliances has intensified after McLaren CEO Zak Brown wrote to the FIA president demanding stricter rules. With Red Bull able to move staff seamlessly between its two teams while others wait out gardening leave, the issue strikes at the heart of competitive fairness. If Red Bull genuinely supports tighter regulations, it could reshape how multi-team ownership is governed in F1.

The details:

• McLaren's Zak Brown fired the latest salvo, writing to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to advocate for stricter rules on strategic alliances and multi-team ownership.
• Team principal Andrea Stella reinforced that stance during an FIA press conference at the Canadian GP.
• Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane pushed back, insisting "a lot of work goes into ensuring that we are respecting those rules."
• Mekies took a more conciliatory line: "If any stakeholders feel that more steps are needed to ensure 11 teams racing independently, we would support."
• He added that Red Bull sees no need to sell the sister team, but is open to any action deemed necessary by the sport.

Between the lines:

While Mekies stopped short of suggesting a sale of Racing Bulls, his openness to further regulation signals a recognition that the current model faces growing opposition. The move may be strategic — preempting a crackdown by showing willingness to comply — but it leaves the door open for significant changes to the ownership landscape in F1.