Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has doubled down on the claim that Red Bull Racing and its junior team, AlphaTauri, operate as independent entities. This assertion follows the intense clash between Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson during the Mexican GP, where tensions boiled over after Lawson passed Perez in a heated moment that culminated with Lawson flipping a middle finger at the Mexican driver.
The incident drew a fiery response from Perez, who publicly criticized Lawson’s attitude, questioning his readiness for F1. Yet, Horner was quick to address the situation, confirming that Lawson apologized to Perez post-race and suggested the altercation was a learning moment. “Liam has apologized to Checo,” Horner told select media. “There’ll be lessons from this, but it’s certainly frustrating for Checo to pick up damage and lose valuable points today.”
This incident has reignited questions about the relationship between Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri, both owned by Red Bull but purportedly independent in operation. Critics, including McLaren CEO Zak Brown, have repeatedly raised concerns about a single ownership model potentially influencing race outcomes, especially in tight championship battles. Last month, AlphaTauri pitted Daniel Ricciardo in Singapore, allowing him to claim the fastest lap—a move that came at the expense of Lando Norris, who lost a point in his fight against Max Verstappen for second place in the Drivers’ standings.
The move sparked further scrutiny, with McLaren’s Team Principal Andrea Stella questioning AlphaTauri’s autonomy. Norris warned, “If it’s repetitive, that’s where we’d question it more deeply.”
Horner brushed off these concerns, defending AlphaTauri’s move to secure Ricciardo’s fastest lap as a celebratory gesture. “Daniel wanted to finish on a high,” he stated, downplaying McLaren’s suspicions.
As the season heads into its final races, Red Bull’s operations will remain under the microscope. The fiery rivalry on track and heightened scrutiny off it underline the tensions between independent racing teams and those under joint ownership in the Formula 1 paddock.
