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McLaren supports Renault in preventing 'B-Teams' in F1

McLaren supports Renault in preventing 'B-Teams' in F1

27-03-2019 09:24 Last update: 09:25
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Jake Williams-Smith

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has backed calls by Renault to prevent the emergence of 'B-Teams' in Formula 1.

Under the current regulations, spending huge quantities of money in the search for development gains has led some teams to pursue such an arrangement.

After comments made by Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul about Toro Rosso and Haas fulfilling 'B-Team' roles for Red Bull and Ferrari respectively, Brown backed his calls for the regulation of such teams for the long-term benefit of the sport.

"McLaren is aligned with Renault’s view on the future direction of the sport. That is, I think we need a level playing field, not just for McLaren, but for the entire grid," Brown told RaceFans.

"That means fair revenue distribution. I don’t think it has to be equal revenue distribution but fair. I think a realistic budget cap, one that a lot of teams can get to through prize money, FOM money and sponsorship.

"Formula 1’s DNA has always been being a constructor. So I think equipment should either be listed parts – and that’s what makes you a constructor – or standard parts if we want to help teams that maybe don’t have capabilities to make listed parts.

"But what I don’t think you should have are some teams supplying other teams but not all teams. I think that would make for a truer Formula 1, truer constructors. better for everyone.

"The governance of the sport needs to be addressed because a lot of the rules and regulation you try to get through get aggravated by teams aligning.

"So I think the teams need to have a say and a vote but not to such an extent that we can stop things from happening and I think that’s ultimately what the fans want. And I think like great sports it should be different winners more frequently, different champions and I think then we all win."