FIA boss divided on multi-team ownership, expects Christian Horner to return to Formula One

MIAMI – Formula One’s governing body FIA is looking into whether multi-team ownership should be allowed after Mercedes were linked to a minority stake in Renault-owned Alpine.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the body’s president, said at the Miami Grand Prix that he was personally against it but could also see arguments for it.

Red Bull currently own two of the sport’s 11 teams – Red Bull and Racing Bulls – and although they operate independently, all drivers are centrally contracted and the movement of senior staff members between the two is seamless rather than subject to long periods of “gardening leave”.

Rivals, and particularly McLaren’s Zak Brown, have highlighted the disadvantage they face when recruiting top staff and also the risk of collusion between teams with a common ownership.

Ben Sulayem said multi-team ownership could be acceptable if done for the “right reasons”.

“As long as you are not trying to take it (the stake) 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,” he added.

“But then I do believe that owning two is not the right way – this is my personal point of view – but we are looking into that because it’s a complicated area.”

Red Bull bought Minardi at the end of 2005 when the team were on the brink of folding, saving jobs and keeping cars on what would otherwise have been a depleted starting grid.

The second team have been used as a feeder for the six-time constructors’ champions, bringing on star drivers such as Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel, as well as a string of race winners over the years.

Former Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was fired in July 2025, but has recently been linked to a 24 per cent stake in Alpine held by a group of investors led by Otro Capital, who want to sell.

Alpine’s de facto boss Flavio Briatore confirmed in March that Mercedes were also interested in the stake. Such a move would sideline the Briton, an old foe of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

Ben Sulayem said he expected to see Horner return one way or another.

“Who can remove Christian Horner’s name from motor sport and Formula One?” he asked. “You can’t. It was always successful. But success also has enemies, as we know.

“If you ask me, we miss him in this sport and I do. I keep in touch with him and he was good for the team, good for the sport.

“He wants to come back. I talk to him regularly and I feel he will be back. When he comes back, it’s like he went for a vacation... He’s been a character in the sport.” 

Meanwhile, Mercedes would be “absolutely up for” F1 switching to V8 engines from 2030 or 2031, but the sport must remain connected to the real world, according to Wolff.

Ben Sulayem said in Miami that the switch from the current crop of 1.6-litre V6 hybrid power units would happen by 2031 at the latest, and even without the approval of manufacturers.

The units being used now are split roughly 50-50 between electric and combustion power. Speaking after Kimi Antonelli won the May 3 race for Mercedes, the team’s fourth triumph in as many grands prix this season, Wolff sounded positive about the plan.

“Long term, I think from a Mercedes standpoint we are open to engine regulations,” said the Austrian.

“We love V8s. That has only great memories. From our perspective it’s a real Mercedes engine, it revs high. And then how do we make it? How do we give enough energy from the battery side to not lose connection to the real world?

“If we swing 100 per cent combustion, then we’re looking a bit ridiculous in 2031 or 2030. So we need to consider that. Make it simpler and make it a mega engine.” REUTERS