McLaren chief executive Zak Brown has once again voiced his long‑standing objections to the practice of multi‑ownership and close‑knit alliances between Formula 1 teams, a debate that has resurfaced following reports that Mercedes may be interested in acquiring a minority share in Alpine. Brown has been an outspoken critic of what he describes as "A‑B teams" – situations where one outfit enjoys a privileged relationship with another, either through shared ownership, a technical partnership, or a combination of both.
He argues that such arrangements can blur the line between competition and cooperation, potentially undermining the sport’s integrity. The issue is not new. Red Bull has owned two teams – Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri – since 2005, while Ferrari maintains a long‑standing technical partnership with Haas.
Most recently, it emerged that Mercedes is among several parties considering a purchase of the 24 % stake in Alpine currently held by Otro Capital, a U.S. investment firm.
Alpine’s majority shareholder is the Renault Group, and the team’s executive adviser, Flavio Briatore, has remarked that in a typical corporate structure the majority holder (75 %) makes the decisions while the minority partner (25 %) is essentially a passenger. Although the FIA’s regulations permit such cross‑team relationships, Brown, whose McLaren cars run on Mercedes power units, says his concerns apply universally: "Regardless of who is involved, I frown upon it." He believes that the only acceptable link between two teams should be the supply of customer engines, and nothing beyond that. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Brown said, "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 cited concrete examples that illustrate his point. At the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo, driving for the Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri), took a point away from McLaren, indirectly helping Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
He also highlighted the transfer of intellectual property and staff between teams, noting that such moves can give a competitive edge without a corresponding cost under the sport’s budget cap. Brown likened the situation to football: "Can you imagine a Premier League season where two clubs are owned by the same group? One could afford to lose while the other fights relegation.
That’s the risk we face in F1." He insisted that the provision of power units should be the furthest extent of any relationship, and that all eleven teams should operate as independently as possible. During the latest round of Concorde Agreement negotiations, Brown raised his concerns, stating that while the issue is being managed, past incidents show the need for stricter rules to prevent further entanglement. He expressed admiration for Red Bull’s two‑decade investment in the sport, acknowledging that the team’s acquisition of the struggling Minardi outfit in 2005 was a strategic move that helped them grow. However, he cautioned against replicating that model today.
"I’m glad to see the Racing Bulls and Red Bull don’t look like the same race car," he added, emphasizing the importance of visual and technical distinction between sister teams. Brown also mentioned conversations with Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s team principal, noting that Mekies has been open about the challenges of dual‑team ownership and is willing to discuss concerns. Brown recalled that the Concorde Agreement included discussions about whether one of the two teams should eventually be divested to preserve competition.
He reiterated his respect for Red Bull’s contributions but warned that expanding the multi‑team model would be a mistake for Formula 1. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, when asked about the Alpine stake, clarified that Mercedes does not intend to turn Alpine into a junior team. Instead, the German outfit is simply evaluating the potential benefits of a minority investment, saying, "We are looking at it from different angles, and we haven’t come to any conclusions.
We want to know whether it makes sense." A separate consortium, reportedly including former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, has also shown interest in the Alpine shares, adding another layer of complexity to the ownership debate. The broader context of these discussions is the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 1‑3, which will also host the season’s second Sprint weekend.
The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW without a long‑term contract. In summary, Zak Brown’s renewed criticism underscores a growing unease within the paddock about the concentration of power and resources among a few entities. While current regulations allow for shared ownership and technical partnerships, Brown argues that the sport’s future credibility depends on maintaining clear, independent lines between teams, limiting collaboration to the supply of engines, and ensuring that no single group can influence the competitive balance beyond what the rules permit.
The ongoing negotiations around the Concorde Agreement and potential stake sales will likely shape how Formula 1 addresses these concerns in the years ahead.