Criticized by Zak Brown for its closeness to Red Bull, Racing Bulls has firmly defended its operation and its strict compliance with FIA regulations.
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The subject of the links between Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls continues to cause controversy in the Formula 1 paddock.
The CEO of McLaren, Zak Brown, has long criticized the model of dual ownership in F1, with Red Bull GmbH controlling both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls.
Earlier this month, Brown even sent a letter to the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to express his concerns about the sporting integrity of the championship.
The American executive notably believes that some actions by Racing Bulls have indirectly favored Red Bull Racing over the past few months.
He also pointed out how easily some employees can move from one structure to another, citing the example of Laurent Mekies, who was quickly transferred to Red Bull after leaving Racing Bulls last year.
Racing Bulls defends a “client-supplier” relationship
In response to these accusations, Racing Bulls’ sporting director, Alan Permane, wanted to respond clearly.
According to him, the collaboration between the two teams perfectly respects the framework imposed by the FIA’s technical regulations.
“I obviously feel the benefits of being part of the Red Bull family and the Red Bull corporate project group in Austria” Permane explained.
The Brit insists, however, that exchanges between the two structures remain limited to authorized elements.
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“Our relationship with Red Bull Racing essentially works like a client-supplier relationship. We receive certain suspensions, gearboxes as well as other components allowed by the technical regulations, which we comply with extremely rigorously.”
“A lot of effort to comply with the rules”
Permane, who worked for a long time at Renault then Alpine in Enstone before joining Racing Bulls, even claims that this closeness imposes more constraints than it brings advantages.
“Having previously worked in a completely independent team, and now in a structure with this type of relationship, I can say that a huge amount of work is necessary to ensure that all the rules are respected” he insisted.
According to him, a significant part of the team’s resources is mobilized solely to guarantee a compliant separation between the two structures.
“A lot of energy that could be used elsewhere is dedicated to complying with these regulations. So I see absolutely no problem in the way we currently operate.”
A debate far from over
The issue of satellite teams regularly comes back to the center of debates in Formula 1, especially when performances or certain strategic decisions raise questions.
Zak Brown now wants to open a broader discussion with the FIA on this sensitive subject, while several teams in the paddock believe that the Red Bull model offers certain structural advantages that are difficult to match.
For its part, Racing Bulls assures strict compliance with the regulations and considers the criticisms unfounded.
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