The FIA has officially confirmed that it is examining the growing controversy surrounding multi-team ownership in Formula 1, a topic that has sparked debate across the paddock for several years. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem revealed that motorsport’s governing body is now taking a closer look at the issue as concerns continue to rise about competitive fairness and possible conflicts of interest within the sport.
The debate has largely centered around the structure operated by Red Bull Racing, which has controlled two Formula 1 teams for more than two decades. Alongside its main championship-winning outfit, the company also owns Racing Bulls, formerly known as AlphaTauri and Toro Rosso. While both teams are officially separate entities, critics inside Formula 1 have frequently questioned how independent they truly are, especially when it comes to the movement of staff, technical cooperation, and strategic alignment.
The controversy intensified following the departure of Christian Horner from Red Bull last season. Shortly after Horner’s exit, Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies was rapidly promoted to replace him at the senior team. The swift transition reignited discussions about how closely linked the two organizations are behind the scenes.
Now, the issue has expanded beyond Red Bull due to growing speculation surrounding Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team and its reported interest in acquiring a 24 percent stake in Alpine. The shares are currently owned by a consortium of investors led by Otro Capital, which includes several globally recognized sports and entertainment figures.
Among the investors are Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes, and golf champion Rory McIlroy. The group originally purchased the Alpine stake in 2023 for around €200 million, but reports suggest the value of those shares has now risen dramatically to approximately €800 million.
The possibility of Mercedes becoming financially linked with another Formula 1 team has raised major questions about whether the sport should allow cross-team ownership structures moving forward. Horner himself has also reportedly shown interest in the Alpine shares, further increasing intrigue around the situation.
One of the loudest critics of multi-team ownership has been Zak Brown. The McLaren chief executive has repeatedly argued that allowing one organization or ownership group to hold influence across multiple teams creates risks for sporting integrity and damages competitive balance.
Brown recently made his stance crystal clear, insisting that co-ownership arrangements would not be tolerated in most major global sports. According to him, Formula 1 risks undermining the fairness of competition if teams are allowed to share ownership ties or maintain overly close operational relationships.
His comments reflect broader concerns within the paddock that multi-team ownership could potentially influence driver transfers, technical cooperation, strategic decisions, and even race outcomes. Critics fear that as Formula 1 becomes more commercially valuable, powerful organizations could gain disproportionate influence through investments in multiple teams.
The FIA has not yet indicated whether new regulations or restrictions could be introduced, but Ben Sulayem’s confirmation that the matter is under review signals that the governing body recognizes the seriousness of the debate.
With Formula 1 continuing to expand globally and attract increasing investment from celebrities, corporations, and sporting giants, the issue of team ownership structures is likely to become one of the sport’s most important political discussions over the coming years. Whether the FIA ultimately tightens the rules or allows the current system to continue could have a major impact on the future competitive landscape of Formula 1.
