Red Bull Could Be Forced to Sell Racing Bulls Amid FIA Dual Ownership Review

The landscape of Formula 1 team ownership could be on the verge of a seismic shift. According to a report from The Times, Red Bull may eventually be forced to sell its sister team, Racing Bulls, if the FIA decides to implement strict measures against dual ownership in the sport.

However, this nearly 20-year alignment has inevitably raised persistent questions regarding sporting integrity. McLaren CEO Zak Brown has emerged as perhaps the leading critic of the arrangement, consistently voicing his concerns without outright demanding an official FIA ban.

The FIA's Stance on Multi-Team Ownership

The pressure on the Red Bull and Racing Bulls dynamic appears to be mounting from the very top of the sport's governing body. Speaking to outlets including The Times, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirmed that the FIA is actively evaluating whether restrictions on dual ownership need to be imposed in Formula 1.

While it remains unclear exactly what form such regulations would take, Ben Sulayem made it explicitly clear that he is personally opposed to the current arrangement between the two Red Bull-owned entities.

"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," Ben Sulayem stated.

As it stands, current Formula 1 regulations stipulate that every team must operate as a separate entity. However, the ongoing review could lead to much stricter rules.

Rumours of a Forced Sale and Market Implications

For several months, rumours have circulated that Red Bull may eventually be forced to sell Racing Bulls should the FIA or Formula 1 officially change their position. While Red Bull would clearly be the most affected by any regulatory overhaul, the implications could stretch further. Notably, Mercedes is reportedly keen to buy a stake in Alpine, a deal that could theoretically be blocked under stricter ownership frameworks.

If Red Bull is forced to put Racing Bulls on the market, they will have an obvious suitor. Based on a report from last year, Red Bull has already rejected a £1.1bn bid for Racing Bulls. Considering they paid only around £20m for Minardi, the potential for profit is enormous. Yet, if the primary goal was solely to make money, a sale could have happened long ago. The two teams have been aligned for nearly 20 years, giving Red Bull an invaluable talent development route.

Should an opening arise, Chinese manufacturer BYD is looking to buy an F1 team and will be attentive to any potential opening, even if there have been no concrete links with Racing Bulls at this stage.

As the FIA continues its complicated review, the future of Red Bull's dual-team empire hangs in the balance.