McLaren’s chief executive Zak Brown has once again voiced his long‑standing concerns about the growing trend of multi‑team ownership and close technical partnerships within Formula 1, a debate that has been reignited by reports that Mercedes is evaluating a minority investment in the Alpine squad. Brown has been an outspoken opponent of what he labels "A‑B teams" – situations where one outfit enjoys a privileged relationship with another, either through shared ownership structures or deep technical collaborations. He argues that such arrangements can erode the competitive balance that is essential to the sport’s integrity.
Historically, several manufacturers have built similar networks. Red Bull, for instance, has owned two teams since 2005, while Ferrari maintains a long‑standing technical partnership with Haas. The latest development involves Mercedes, which is reportedly one of several parties interested in acquiring the 24 percent stake in Alpine currently held by the U.S.
investment firm Otro Capital. Alpine’s majority shareholder is the Renault Group, and its executive advisor, Flavio Briatore, has suggested that in a typical corporate setting the majority owner (75 percent) makes the decisions while the minority holder (25 percent) merely follows along. Although such shareholdings are permissible under current regulations, Brown – whose McLaren cars are powered by Mercedes engines – insists that his stance applies universally. "Regardless of who is involved, I frown upon it," he said, emphasizing that any cross‑team relationship should be limited to the supply of power units and nothing more.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Brown reiterated his position: "I've been saying for ten years I don't like co‑ownership, I don't like A‑B teams. I think it runs a high risk of compromising the sporting integrity of the sport." He illustrated his concerns with concrete examples from recent races. At the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, a fastest‑lap point earned by Daniel Ricciardo while driving for Racing Bulls effectively took a point away from McLaren, benefiting Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
Brown also highlighted the ease with which intellectual property and personnel can move between allied teams, noting that staff transfers sometimes occur overnight, giving the receiving team a cost‑cap advantage because they avoid the expense of developing those resources from scratch. During a McLaren media briefing, Brown drew a parallel with football: "Imagine a Premier League season where two clubs are owned by the same group. One club could be relegated while the other can afford to lose without consequence.
That's the risk we face in F1." He continued, "Engine supply should be the furthest extent of any relationship. All eleven teams need to be as independent as possible." Brown said he raised these issues during the most recent Concorde Agreement negotiations, which bring together the sport’s governing bodies, teams, and commercial rights holders. "I think it’s being managed now, but we’ve seen incidents in the past and we need to eliminate them, not expand them," he remarked.
While he praised Red Bull for its two‑decade investment in the sport and acknowledged the historical context that led the Austrian giant to acquire the struggling Minardi team in 2005, Brown maintains that the model should not be replicated. "I’m glad to see the Racing Bulls and Red Bull cars look distinct," he added, emphasizing the importance of visual and technical separation. Brown also referenced conversations with Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, noting that Mekies has been transparent about the challenges of managing two teams.
"He’s the only one with two teams and he’s been very open: ‘If you see something you don’t like, let’s talk about it.’ So I think they recognise the issue and don’t want to push the envelope," Brown said. The Concorde Agreement discussions have even touched on the possibility that one of the dual‑owned teams might eventually need to be divested to preserve competition. Brown expressed appreciation for Red Bull’s contributions to the sport while urging vigilance: "As long as it’s managed and watched, adding more of this structure would be a mistake for the sport." Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, when asked about the Alpine stake, clarified that the German manufacturer does not intend to turn Alpine into a junior team to its works outfit.
Instead, Mercedes is simply assessing whether a minority share makes commercial sense. "We are looking at it from different angles and haven’t come to any conclusions yet. We want to know whether it makes sense," Wolff said. Other interested parties include a consortium featuring former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, indicating that the market for Alpine’s minority share is attracting a range of potential investors.
Brown’s comments arrive ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, the next event on the 2024 calendar, which will also host the season’s second sprint weekend. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW without a long‑term contract.
In summary, Zak Brown’s renewed critique underscores a broader debate within Formula 1 about how far team collaborations should be allowed. While ownership stakes and technical partnerships are not illegal, Brown argues that they pose a threat to fair competition if left unchecked.
His call for stricter separation—limiting relationships to engine supply only—reflects a desire to preserve the sport’s core principle of equal opportunity for all entrants, ensuring that success is earned on the track rather than through corporate alliances.