Laurent Mekies, Team Principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing, has firmly rejected suggestions that his team and its sister outfit, Racing Bulls (VCARB), engage in coordinated race tactics to gain a sporting advantage, a practice that is strictly prohibited under Formula 1 regulations.
The French manager was responding directly to criticism that has emerged in recent weeks, particularly from Mercedes Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff, regarding the relationship between the two Red Bull-owned teams.
The issue of multiple-team ownership continues to divide opinion throughout the Formula 1 paddock. Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls share the closest relationship of any two teams currently on the grid. While McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has repeatedly argued for tighter restrictions on such arrangements, and Toto Wolff has pointed to specific examples that have raised questions, Laurent Mekies has strongly defended the independence of both organisations.
Laurent Mekies’ comments on team independence
Mekies stressed that the regulations require every Formula 1 team to compete completely independently, regardless of ownership structures, power unit partnerships or shared components.
He stated: “Look, we support 11 teams in Formula 1 that race independently on track, and the regulations are specifically designed to ensure that 11 teams compete independently. It doesn’t matter whether they share ownership, use the same power unit, the same gearbox or the same suspension; we all have to race independently.”
Addressing the movement of personnel between teams, Mekies explained that Red Bull not only complies with FIA regulations regarding gardening leave periods, but often imposes even longer restrictions in order to avoid any potential controversy.
He added that much of the criticism appears exaggerated and is driven by concerns surrounding perceived “gaming” of the system.
Verstappen’s pass on Lawson and the technical explanation
Mekies also addressed the Miami incident in which Max Verstappen overtook Liam Lawson with relative ease, an episode that fuelled speculation among some observers.
The Red Bull Racing CEO encouraged critics to examine every on-track battle between Racing Bulls and Red Bull cars since the beginning of the season rather than focusing on a single example.
He said: “Regarding the overtake, I would ask you to look at it differently. Analyse all the on-track interactions between Racing Bulls and Red Bull. Since the start of the year, you will find many examples because unfortunately our car was not very competitive at the beginning of the season.
“Our analysis tells us that Miami was probably the most difficult circuit when it comes to overtaking. Passing a midfield car there was especially complicated.”
Mekies then delivered a very direct response to the allegations.
“We would have to be incredibly stupid, knowing the amount of attention this topic receives, to think about applying any treatment that is not compatible with the sporting regulations.”
In other words, Red Bull believes it would be unthinkable to risk engaging in prohibited tactics given the intense scrutiny surrounding the relationship between the two teams.
Red Bull stands by its position
According to Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls operate as completely independent teams, and any form of improper cooperation would not only violate the regulations but would also make little sense given the level of attention directed at both organisations.
The Milton Keynes-based team continues to insist that it fully respects FIA rules and believes conclusions should be drawn from factual analysis and evidence rather than perceptions or assumptions.
With debate over multi-team ownership unlikely to disappear anytime soon, the relationship between Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls is expected to remain one of the most closely scrutinised topics in the Formula 1 paddock throughout the 2026 season.
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