F1 News: Red Bull-AlphaTauri Under Scrutiny By McLaren Chief

Zak Brown is wary about how close the two teams are getting in 2024.

Expressing concern about the growing collaboration between Red Bull and sister team AlphaTauri, who are poised to share more components in the upcoming season, McLaren CEO Zak Brown underscored that this is an issue that the sport should address in the future.

Though it is listed as ‘Scuderia AlphaTauri RB’ in the FIA’s entry list, AlphaTauri is about to receive a rebranding for the 2024 season. However, it has ensured that it complies with the rules on how many parts it can borrow from Red Bull next year. 

Red Bull Press Image

The Red Bull junior team upped its pace toward the end of the 2023 season, though not enough to secure wins or podiums. But that got many thinking about the checks in place on the exchange of parts between both teams, which Red Bull could utilize to its advantage if there aren't many. 

Though there is a rule in place to limit the exchange of parts and information between two teams, Brown has raised the alarm by calling for stricter measures to ensure the teams function independently. Speaking to Motorsport.com over the issue, he said:

“We have some big concerns over the alliance between AlphaTauri and Red Bull.

"I think that is something that needs to be addressed in the future.

“So, I still think the sport has a way to go to make sure that everyone is truly independent.

“It is two teams with common ownership, which you wouldn’t have in other sports.

“[It could benefit Red Bull in] a lot of different ways. There is a reason why they are moving a lot of their people from Italy.

“As Helmut [Marko, Red Bull motorsport advisor] has said, they are going to do absolutely everything they can to benefit from having two teams.

“I get that because that’s what the rules say. But I think we need to look at the governance of the sport around technical alliances.”