FIA confirm investigation of controversial F1 team ownership situation

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed that motorsport's governing body is looking into the controversy concerning multi-team ownership in Formula 1.

Energy drinks giant Red Bull has owned two teams over its two decades in F1, but their 'independence' has long been questioned by many in the sport, in particular, in relation to the movement of personnel.

That was highlighted last season following the sacking of Christian Horner as Red Bull team principal. Within days, Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies was appointed as his replacement.

The question of multi-team ownership is again in the spotlight due to Mercedes' apparent interest in the 24% stake available at F1 rival Alpine, owned by a group of investors led by Otro Capital.

The group, which includes renowned stars such as Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and golfer Rory McIlroy, bought the stake in 2023 for 200 million euros. Three years later, it is understood that the shares are now worth in the region of 800 million euros.

Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is known to be interested, whilst Mercedes has been heavily linked.

It has drawn into question, however, multi-team ownership in F1. McLaren CEO Zak Brown, in particular, has long raged against the system.

Only recently, Brown declared: "Co-ownership in today's day and age is prohibited in almost all, if ⁠not all, major forms of sport. It runs a real high risk of compromising ​the integrity of sporting fairness. I've been vocal about it from day one."

Speaking to select media, including RacingNews365, Ben Sulayem made clear his opposition to multi-team ownership, and that the FIA was looking into the ethics and integrity of the matter.

"I feel ownership of two teams, as long as it's for the right reason...And what is the right reason?" he questioned.

"As long as you are not trying to take it because you don't want others to take it, or also get voting power when it comes to the regulations, then maybe it's okay.

"But then I do believe that owning two is not the right way. This is my personal point of view. We are looking into it because it's a complicated area. We have put our people to see if it is possible. Is it allowed? Is it the right thing?

"There is something called a sporting side. I am with what goes on here, but if we lose the sporting spirit, I believe that there will not be any more support for it. So to me, I'm not with it 100%."