F1 News: Guenther Steiner Calls For Changes To "Business Model" Over Red Bull- VCARB Relation
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner highlighted the relationship between Red Bull and its sister team, VCARB, by addressing McLaren CEO Zak Brown's concerns about their increasing closeness in F1 and the future such an alliance holds in Formula 1. He emphasized the need for a change in the sport's business model unless it continues to develop the way it is. Then, the corrections might come about more naturally.
Key Takeaways:
- Steiner, former Haas team principal, acknowledged concerns raised by McLaren's Zak Brown about the close Red Bull-VCARB alliance, suggesting changes in F1's business model unless natural corrections occur.
- Brown expressed worries about shared ownership, calling for FIA intervention, especially regarding VCARB borrowing components from Red Bull in the current cost cap era.
- Steiner compared the Ferrari-Haas relationship, emphasizing different ownership. While understanding Brown's concerns, he hinted at potential natural resolutions with the sport's continued development, suggesting possible changes to business models in the future.
The alliance between Red Bull and its sister team has been a huge concern for Brown since he has called it out on several instances. The McLaren boss is concerned that two teams having the same owner, no matter how independently they function, can cause Red Bull to take undue advantage of situations or rules.
As VCARB has been borrowing several components from Red Bull since the previous year and plans to continue this practice in the current season, Brown contends that this approach challenges the notion of being a constructor and calls for FIA intervention. This is particularly noteworthy in the current cost cap era.
Aligning with Brown's viewpoint, Steiner disclosed a comparable relationship between Ferrari and Haas, where the former provided components to the latter. The notable distinction lies in the fact that the ownership of both teams is not shared. He told RacingNews365.com:
"Without that relationship, Haas would not have been able to go where we did.
"We wouldn't have survived the first season, in my opinion. It was very important.
"Obviously, with where Formula 1 is going now, there needs to be a direction where you do something.
"I understand Zak's position very well, what he's asking for. He is raising this for the long-term future of the sport.
"But the relationship between two teams owned by the same owner is different than the relationship between Haas and Ferrari.
"Then again, for the future, if the sport is in good standing, maybe there needs to be changes to the business models in general.
"Formula One is a little bit different to anything else, and we cannot forget what Red Bull brought to the sport when it was in difficulty, so there needs to be respect for that as well.
"But if the sport continues to develop like it is now, there will be a natural way to solve that problem."
