An F1 team boss has responded to growing calls for the FIA to investigate Red Bull’s relationship with sister outfit Racing Bulls, insisting that the partnership operates fully within Formula 1’s regulations.
The debate surrounding multi-team ownership in Formula 1 has intensified in recent years, with McLaren CEO Zak Brown among the strongest critics of the current setup involving Red Bull and Racing Bulls. Brown has repeatedly argued that having two closely linked teams on the grid creates what he sees as an unfair competitive advantage.
Red Bull first entered Formula 1 in 2005 and quickly expanded its presence by purchasing the Faenza-based Minardi team, which was rebranded as Toro Rosso for the 2006 season. Over the years, the team has undergone several identity changes, becoming AlphaTauri, then VCARB, before adopting the Racing Bulls name ahead of the 2025 campaign.
The second team has long been used as a pathway for developing young Red Bull talent. Drivers including Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar all progressed through the junior outfit before earning opportunities with the senior Red Bull team.
Critics, however, believe the close relationship between the two organisations gives Red Bull an advantage not available to independent teams. Brown has frequently questioned whether the arrangement is healthy for the sport, especially as Formula 1 becomes increasingly competitive and financially balanced under the cost cap era.
Earlier this month, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem addressed the topic and suggested the governing body could take a closer look at the issue in the future. While he defended the principle of multi-team ownership, he stressed that such structures should only exist for the “right reasons.”
The comments prompted renewed discussion across the paddock, with many questioning whether tighter restrictions could eventually be introduced.
Now, Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has defended the team’s relationship with Red Bull Racing, dismissing suggestions that the setup creates any unfair benefit.
Permane, who previously worked with Renault and Alpine before taking over as Racing Bulls boss in 2025 following Laurent Mekies’ promotion to Red Bull, explained that the partnership operates under a strict customer-supplier arrangement.
Speaking to media during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Permane acknowledged that Racing Bulls does benefit from being part of the wider Red Bull organisation, but insisted every aspect of the collaboration complies with FIA regulations.
According to Permane, Racing Bulls purchases components such as suspension systems, gearboxes and other parts that are legally transferable under Formula 1’s technical rules. He stressed that the team follows those rules “very rigorously” and pointed out that significant effort is required to ensure complete compliance.
Permane also compared the situation to his previous experience at teams without a technical partnership, saying that maintaining regulatory separation actually consumes substantial resources and attention.
He argued that rather than creating loopholes, the rules surrounding shared components force teams like Racing Bulls to dedicate time and manpower toward proving that all procedures remain within FIA guidelines.
The Racing Bulls chief insisted he sees “no issue” with the current structure and rejected claims that the collaboration undermines competition.
The issue is likely to remain a major talking point throughout the season as Formula 1 continues to debate the balance between independent teams and multi-team ownership models.
While Red Bull and Racing Bulls maintain that their partnership is entirely legal and transparent, rival teams may continue to pressure the FIA into reviewing whether closer restrictions are needed in the future.
For now, however, the FIA has not indicated that any formal investigation or rule changes are imminent, leaving the controversial Red Bull-Racing Bulls arrangement firmly under the spotlight.
