Mercedes least concerned over AlphaTauri’s growing ties with Red Bull due to ‘very tight’ regulations

AlphaTauri will see some major changes in the team before the 2024 season. Apart from the leadership changes within the team, a rebranding is in the works for the Faenza outfit. However, people around the paddock are pondering over Red Bull‘s increasing involvement with the team ahead of the season.

Mercedes’ technical director James Allison has expressed confidence in the status quo. Keeping in mind the tight regulations and rules regarding the involvement of the same giant overlooking two teams, Allison highlighted that Mercedes was not worried. According to the regulations, the teams cannot pass anything that can be regarded as the ‘intellectual property’ of another team.

I’m not entirely sure what the nature of the relationships between those two teams is, but I am clear on what the rules are. The rules are very tight about not passing on anything that could be regarded as intellectual property from one team to another.  

Allison told motorsport.com.

Additionally, AlphaTauri will see some major changes to the team and has fans questioning the changes to the Faenza. Moreover, Mercedes also had a similar situation with Aston Martin [then Racing Point] where the latter’s chassis represented a ditto copy of the Mercedes’ W11 back in 2020. Allison pondered over this and explained that due to the extended freedom back then, such a scenario had risen. Following that fiasco, FIA tightened up the regulations to ensure such a situation is not caused again.

In the past it was more open, and the relationship that Mercedes enjoyed with the team that is now Aston Martin, at the time that was a relationship that permitted much greater freedom than it does today. The rules were tightened up substantially to mean that you cannot really have a technical or a sporting relationship. 

AlphaTauri and Red Bull could have a close commercial alliance down the season

However, Allison did not rule out the possibility of an increased commercial alliance between Alphatauri and Red Bull. Both the teams could work together for PR events and further increase the popularity of the team amongst fans according to the Mercedes director. The strong relationship between the two teams could only be a strong commercial alliance according to the 55-year-old.

Hence, the strict implementation of regulations in the sport makes it unlikely for AlphaTauri and Red Bull to have a strong technical or sporting relationship. Repeating a ‘pink Mercedes’ scenario is not possible, as such a case would just create a ruckus and unhappiness within the minds of the people.

AlphaTauri has also been very transparent with its upgrades and information down the season. Since Red Bull has been supporting both teams for multiple seasons now, it is very unlikely that any new issues will arise. Additionally, the multiple changes to the team could prove to be just what the Faenza needs to achieve a decent finish in the championship for the upcoming season of Formula 1.

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