Ben Sulayem takes a stance against Mercedes in the dispute over Alpine's stake.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has raised concerns about the concept of multi-team ownership in Formula 1, coinciding with Zak Brown’s formal escalation of the matter through a written complaint. Reports indicate that Brown has sent a detailed six-page letter to Ben Sulayem addressing his worries regarding shared ownership structures within the sport.
The focus has sharpened on the 24 percent stake in Alpine held by Otro Capital, with speculation surrounding Mercedes chief Toto Wolff potentially making a bid. Christian Horner is also significantly linked to this stake, as he looks towards returning to Formula 1 after his gardening leave from Red Bull.
Brown has previously voiced his opposition to a single manufacturer or ownership group exerting control over multiple teams, even though McLaren utilizes Mercedes power units. Ben Sulayem has now also shown his unease with this notion.
"Who isn't interested?" he commented regarding the Alpine stake, as reported by The Times. "Truly, everyone wants in." Still, he expressed skepticism about the reasons behind such investments.
"I believe ownership of two teams is acceptable if it’s for the right reason ... but what constitutes the right reason?" he pondered. "As long as the motive isn't to prevent others from gaining ownership or obtaining voting power concerning regulations, it might be fine. Yet personally, I don't believe owning two teams is appropriate."
Ben Sulayem confirmed that the FIA is currently assessing the situation internally. "We are investigating because it's a complex issue," he stated. "We have tasked our team to determine if it is feasible, permissible, and appropriate."
The Emirati also cautioned that Formula 1 risks undermining its competitive integrity if ownership power becomes overly centralized. "There’s a sporting aspect to consider," he remarked. "If we lose the competitive spirit, I genuinely believe support for the sport will diminish."
Thus, he reiterated, "I'm not entirely in favor of it." These remarks are particularly significant considering Ben Sulayem's recent strong public support for Horner, indicating that Formula 1 "misses" him and would happily welcome his return.
In other developments, UOL journalist Julianne Cerasoli has reported that Flavio Briatore is anticipated to depart from Alpine at the conclusion of 2026 and will not be involved in negotiations regarding the sale of the Otro Capital stake.
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