FIA to look 'very carefully' at team alliances

Formula One race director Charlie Whiting has admitted that the governing body of the sport, the FIA, will look "very carefully" at the alliances being created by teams in the 'A Team' and 'B Team' format like that of Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

In recent years it has become commonplace for the larger teams in F1 such as Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull to create relationships with junior teams so that their younger drivers can go out on loan and experience Grand Prix races before making the step up to the larger outfit.

Currently, Haas has a relationship with Ferrari and Red Bull have Toro Rosso, but critics point to the conflict of interest which could present situations where the junior team alters their plans during races to meet the needs of the larger team.

“I think it’s something we should be concerned about, and it’s something we will be discussing,” Whiting said.

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“Obviously the [Haas-Ferrari] relationship started it, and we knew exactly how that was possible in the beginning. There was a loophole in the beginning which has been closed now to new entrants.

“It’s why [Haas] were able to do a lot more work than a current team than it could before it was established as a proper entrant. But that won’t happen anymore.

“But the sort of things we are hearing is alliances between existing teams and I think that needs to be looked at very carefully.”