Red Bull imposes stricter internal restrictions after Zak Brown’s FIA complaint – Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has revealed that the Milton Keynes-based organisation has introduced internal restrictions that go beyond FIA regulations governing personnel movement between Red Bull Racing and RB.
The move follows concerns raised by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who recently wrote to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem questioning the legitimacy of Formula 1’s dual-team ownership model.
Brown’s intervention has reignited debate over Red Bull GmbH’s ownership of both Red Bull Racing and RB (Racing Bulls), with particular focus on staff transfers and the independence of the two teams.
TJ13 knows that historically, the junior Red Bull team has had its staff working regularly in the Red Bull Racing Milton Keynes factory in previous years, a habit that has often been thought of as an open secret in the F1 world.
Mekies says Red Bull is going beyond FIA requirements
Speaking to media, including TJ13, Mekies insisted that Red Bull fully complies with FIA regulations and has voluntarily adopted even stricter measures to avoid accusations of inappropriate collaboration.
“We support seven teams that race independently on the track, and there are rules in place to ensure that,” Mekies explained.
“It doesn’t matter if they have the same owner, use the same power unit, or share the same gearbox or suspension. We all have to race independently.”
The Frenchman then revealed that Red Bull has imposed additional safeguards on staff movements between the two organisations.
“There are extremely precise and detailed rules regarding personnel transfers, and minimum gardening leave periods between teams. Not only do we respect the FIA regulations, but we have also imposed a longer period on ourselves to avoid getting into these kinds of discussions.”
The comments come amid heightened scrutiny of Red Bull’s internal structure, following several high-profile personnel moves.
Brown’s concerns focus on personnel transfers
Brown’s letter to the FIA reportedly highlighted the speed at which personnel have moved between the two Red Bull-owned teams.
One example is Mekies himself, who moved from RB team principal to lead Red Bull Racing following Christian Horner‘s departure in 2025.
The arrival of Andrea Landi has also attracted attention, as critics question whether staff transfers between the two organisations create an unfair competitive advantage.
Brown has argued that Formula 1 should consider banning dual-team ownership entirely, drawing comparisons with UEFA competitions, where clubs under common ownership are prohibited from competing against one another in the same tournament.
His concerns extend beyond staffing arrangements and into race-day conduct.
Lawson incident remains a key talking point
One of the most controversial moments cited by Brown occurred during the Miami Grand Prix, when Liam Lawson relinquished a position to Max Verstappen shortly after being forced off track by the Red Bull Racing driver.
Critics viewed the incident as evidence that the two teams may not always operate entirely independently.
Mekies rejected those suggestions and pointed to numerous examples of competitive, on-track battles between Red Bull Racing and RB drivers throughout the season.
“I would like you to look at all the on-track interactions between RB and Red Bull Racing since the beginning of the year,” he said.
“You will find many examples, because unfortunately our car was not very competitive at the start of the season.”
“Our analysis shows that it is the most difficult midfield car for us to get through.”
“So, we would be more than foolish, knowing that the whole world is watching this subject, to consider treatment that is incompatible with the sporting regulations.”
Why the debate continues to grow
The discussion surrounding Red Bull’s ownership structure is not new. The company over the years has found itself under such scutiny before, one example being Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso (RB’s original team name) between 2006 and 2008, a period that generated debate within the paddock due to a similar situation found today.
RB and Red Bull Racing once again finds itself regularly racing directly against each other on track.
With Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar frequently battling in the midfield, interactions between the two teams are under greater scrutiny than ever before.
As a result, the issue has become less about whether regulations are being followed, and more about whether Formula 1’s dual-team ownership model remains appropriate in an increasingly competitive championship.
Mekies’ admission that Red Bull has voluntarily adopted stricter internal measures suggests the team recognises the sensitivity of the issue and is keen to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest, as scrutiny from rivals continues to intensify.
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Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
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And Zak Brown won’t be satisfied until HIS team continues to be ‘top dog’. BUT – are there any whingeings about ‘shared’ parts … engines, and such?? THAT’s OK with him, is it?!
I think maybe it’s time ALL teams supplied their own …