Liberty must address F1 B-team business model – Brown
McLaren chief Zak Brown is eager to see Formula 1 owners Liberty Media clearly define rules between what teams can share to produce tighter restricti🌄ons on a “B-team business model”.
The Woking-based team ꦅwere beaten by Haas in the battle for fifth place in last season’s F1 ꧙world constructors’ championship, the US squad ending the year 31 points clear, despite being accused of being a Ferrari B-team and whether that broke the sport’s rules.

McLaren chief Zak Brown is eager to see Formu𓂃la 1 owners Liberty Media clearly define rules between what teams can share to produce tighter restrictions on a “B-team business model”.
The Woking-based team were beaten by Haas in the battle for fifth place in last season’s F1 world constru𒉰ctors’ championship, t𝕴he US squad ending the year 31 points clear, despite being accused of being a Ferrari B-team and whether that broke the sport’s rules.
While Haas were cleared of any wrongdoing, aside from Romain Grosjean’s Italian Grand Prix dis൲qualification for an illegal car floor which wasn't related to Bꦺ-team claims, Brown was eager to share praise on Haas following its rise to fifth place in just its third year of competing in F1.
The McLaren CEO feels future rules need clarity an🐽d address what te✃ams can share from technical knowledge to political power.
“I think Haas has done an🐻 excellent, excellent job given their resources and how young the racing team is. You have to admire what they have done,” Brown said.
“I think Liberty are going to address the ‘B-team business model’ because ജI think it allows the big teams to benefit from the B-team. The benefits are everything from technical, to political, to, we’ve seen, on track activities this year that people believe were questionable.
“I think all three of those scenarios is not what Formula 1 is about and need to change for the health of the sport, and I believe they will. Liberty have that in t🔴heir plan, to address B-teams and to what degree you can be ♕a B-team.”
Brown understands the mutual benefits of having a B-team model for both parties, and feels Ferrari has enjoyed 🧸gains from its Haas partnership, but underlined the flaw ꧒of the B-team position which could trigger a two-tier F1 world championship.
“Our belief is a B-team will never be able to compete with the A-team and therefore while maybe going to that business model in the very short-term could make you more compe𒉰titive quicker and be fiscally a better proposition, I think you are giving up on any ho🍸pes of racing as a championship contender,” he said.
“Therefore going for B-team status would be throwing in the towel of being a championship conte🔯nder.
“We think it is critical that ♔Liberty, in the new Formula 1 world, addresses that so all teams can have a fair and equal chance to compete for the championship on a more level playing field.”