McLaren CEO Zak Brown has reinforced his push for Formula 1 reform by issuing a second letter addressing team independence concerns, this time directly to the Woking-based team’s fanbase. The 54-year-old executive previously contacted FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem last month, criticizing dual ownership structures and specifically targeting Red Bull’s control over both its main team and Racing Bulls as problematic for the sport’s integrity.
Brown’s original correspondence highlighted several controversial incidents, including the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix where Daniel Ricciardo, then driving for Red Bull’s sister team, secured the fastest lap and denied McLaren’s Lando Norris a crucial bonus point that could have aided Max Verstappen’s championship campaign. The McLaren chief cited multiple similar examples involving the Red Bull organization to support his argument against current alliance structures.
In his latest open letter to McLaren supporters ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Brown acknowledged that team alliances previously served a vital survival purpose when financial stability was uncertain. However, he argued that F1’s current robust financial health makes such arrangements unnecessary and potentially damaging to competitive fairness.
“Teams should operate entirely independently to ensure total fairness,” Brown stated in the fan letter, emphasizing that technical, financial, and governance matters should be free from alliance influence. He stressed that fans deserve assurance that all 22 drivers compete equally against each other under identical regulations across all 11 teams, with power unit suppliers being the sole exception to complete independence.
The McLaren executive expressed confidence that Liberty Media and the FIA will address these concerns, citing their successful track record in growing the sport’s popularity and financial stability. Brown’s sustained campaign reflects broader paddock discussions about competitive integrity as F1 continues its global expansion under current leadership.