Mekies rejects Red Bull and Racing Bulls conflict claims amid F1 rival scrutiny

Mekies insists Red Bull teams race independently

Laurent Mekies has rejected suggestions of a conflict of interest between Red Bull Racing and sister team Racing Bulls, following renewed criticism from rival Formula 1 teams over the structure of Red Bull’s two-team presence on the grid.

The debate has intensified in recent years, with rivals questioning whether the arrangement creates a competitive advantage. The FIA’s rules prevent teams from sharing core aerodynamic principles, yet concerns persist that two closely linked organisations could influence racing situations on track.

“Look, we are supporting 11 teams racing independently on track. And it’s a matter of regulations in order to ensure that 11 teams race independently on the track,” Mekies said.

Red Bull points to wider F1 component sharing

Mekies also argued that shared ownership should not automatically be treated differently from other technical relationships across the grid. He referenced the fact that Mercedes supplies power units to McLaren, Williams and Alpine, while those teams still compete independently.

“It doesn’t matter if they are co-owned or if they have the same PU or if they have the same gearbox or the same suspensions; we need to all race independently,” he added.

The scrutiny comes at a time when Red Bull remains under close competitive examination, with Mekies also central to recent performance discussions such as Red Bull’s Austria upgrade plans.

Personnel moves and on-track questions addressed

One flashpoint has been Mekies’ own move from Racing Bulls to Red Bull after Christian Horner’s mid-season departure. Rivals questioned whether that transition could blur competitive boundaries, but Mekies insisted both FIA requirements and Red Bull’s own internal safeguards are respected.

“There is an extremely precise and detailed regulations about transfer of personnel and the minimum time of gardening leave between a team and another team,” he said. “Not only do we respect, obviously, the FIA regulations, but also we self-impose on ourselves higher time.”

Mekies also dismissed suggestions that Max Verstappen’s pass on Liam Lawson in Miami indicated preferential treatment. He argued Red Bull would be “more than silly” to risk conduct incompatible with sporting regulations given the level of attention on the subject.

He said Red Bull’s own analysis showed Racing Bulls had been among the most difficult midfield cars for the senior team to overtake this season.

Despite the criticism from rival teams, the FIA has not indicated that Red Bull and Racing Bulls’ relationship is breaching the sport’s rules.