McLaren reiterates concerns over 'unfair advantage' for Red Bull

For AlphaTauri, 2023 was a disappointing year and so the decision was made early on to do things differently in 2024. Not just a different name (Visa Cash App RB), but a closer partnership with big brothers Red Bull Racing. And that doesn't please McLaren, who are calling on Formula 1 to introduce stricter rules.

VCARB are developing fewer parts themselves this year, which means more parts are being bought by Red Bull Technology. The rules allow this, but McLaren don't actually agree with them. Because you now have the situation that either Red Bull Racing or VCARB only have to pay for developing a wing, for example, and they can both use this part. Only one team then has to bear the costs, with the direct consequence that more updates can be rolled out in a year.

Brown critical of F1 rules

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, has expressed his displeasure many times this year and he did so again in Friday's press conference in Bahrain. The American believes that Red Bull is not necessarily breaking the rules, but he does not agree with how things are going now.

"We now have the budget cap in place which was intended and is working, for the most part, to bring a level playing field to the sport, fiscally and in every other manner. I think the sport, as we’re now in the budget cap era, have moved on to where we’re trying to have 10 independent teams from a sporting, from a political, from a technical point of view," Brown said.

Accordingly, the top executive stated: "I think they’re very much playing by the rules, I have an issue with the rules and believe that FIA needs to address this."