FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said that the governing body is “looking into whether multi-team ownership should be allowed in Formula 1,” according to Molly Hudson of the London TIMES. Mercedes “recently tabled a bid” for Otro Capital’s 24% stake in Alpine, with Renault holding the other 76%. Red Bull has owned two teams for about two decades -- Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls -- though the sport is now in a “far stronger financial position.” Ben Sulayem’s latest comments suggest that there “could be a change in position on multi-team ownership.” He said, “Owning two [teams] is not the right way.” Hudson wrote Ben Sulayem’s public stance “is interesting,” given there have been rumors for several months that any change in the FIA or F1’s position “could lead to Red Bull eventually being forced to sell Racing Bulls, and may affect Mercedes’ bid for the Alpine stake.” Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is “leading one bid” for the Otro stake. Mercedes and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 CEO and team principal Toto Wolff -- Horner’s old rival -- “have submitted another,” along with “several other interested parties.” Renault are “able to control to whom the Otro stake is sold, but that privilege expires in September.” Sources said that the Mercedes bid is “more likely to be favoured by Renault because of the synergy between the two car manufacturers that could arise from such a deal” (London TIMES, 5/4).
FIA weighs ban on multi-team ownership in F1
