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Racing Bulls Defend Red Bull Component Sharing: Mekies Fires Back at Critics

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
January 14, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Racing Bulls Sets Sights on Innovation with New Milton Keynes Aero Facility

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 08: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Visa Cash App RB prepares to drive on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 08, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202412080324 // Usage for editorial use only //

Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies has hit back at critics questioning his team’s reliance on Red Bull’s Formula 1 components, arguing that the synergy model not only complies with regulations but also plays a crucial role in keeping the sport competitive and cost-effective.


Red Bull Synergy: A Model Under Fire

As Racing Bulls ramps up its integration with Red Bull, the team’s 2025 car will feature Red Bull’s power unit, gearbox, and front and rear suspension. The partnership also includes shared use of Red Bull’s wind tunnel and a new aerodynamics department based at the Milton Keynes campus.

This close collaboration has drawn criticism from figures like McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who opposes multi-team ownership models in F1. Brown has voiced concerns over fairness and the potential for smaller teams to gain advantages without developing their own components.

However, Mekies is quick to dismantle these arguments, highlighting that similar partnerships, such as Haas with Ferrari, have existed for over 15 years without leading to dominance by these teams.

“You’ve never seen teams taking items from someone else suddenly fighting for the championship or the top three,” Mekies said. “It just never happened.”


Fighting for Competitiveness in F1

Mekies emphasized that Racing Bulls’ collaboration with Red Bull adheres to F1’s regulations, which are designed to ensure competitiveness while keeping costs manageable.

“F1 is about avoiding a ‘division one and division two,’” he said. “Shareable components help ensure a competitive, tight field with 20 cars.”

The 2024 season highlighted the gulf between the top teams and the rest of the grid. Mercedes, the fourth-placed team, scored 468 points—more than 370 points clear of fifth-placed Aston Martin. Racing Bulls, despite sharing Red Bull components, finished eighth, 543 points behind their senior counterpart.


A Reality Check on Component Sharing

Mekies questioned the backlash against shared components, arguing that they play a key role in leveling the playing field while maintaining the spectacle for fans.

“Do fans care if you have your own gearbox or not?” he asked. “Is it right to spend that kind of money on gearbox development? What for? It’s about keeping costs under control and narrowing the field.”

Racing Bulls’ use of Red Bull technology allows the team to remain competitive without inflating its workforce. With over 600 staff, Mekies believes Racing Bulls has enough resources to operate effectively while adhering to F1’s cost cap.


2026 and Beyond: The Bigger Picture

Looking ahead to F1’s 2026 regulations, Mekies expressed concerns that the grid could become even more spread out with the introduction of new rules. He emphasized that shared components could help mitigate this disparity, ensuring closer racing and a sustainable future for midfield teams like Racing Bulls and Haas.

“New regulations often result in a wider gap initially,” he said. “Anything that avoids a big spread is good for the sport.”


A Model for the Future

Mekies defended the current model as a sensible compromise for a sport that balances technical innovation with financial sustainability. He underscored that shared components, cost caps, and equitable prize distribution are all part of F1’s broader strategy to create thrilling, competitive racing without unnecessary excess.

“This model allows teams like ours or Haas to exist without needing to add hundreds of people,” he concluded. “F1 has done a lot to ensure we deliver a great spectacle, and I believe this approach contributes to that.”

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