FIA 'need to take a close look' at team influence - McLaren

McLaren chief Zak Brown has been discussing the situation around junior teams within Formula 1, and believes that the FIA needs to 'look closely' into team relationships and how one team can influence another, leading to a lack of opportunities for young drivers.

Brown confirmed that three teams have made contact with McLaren about the availability of 18-year-old Lando Norris, who is currently leading the F2 series and of big things are expected in the future.

Helmut Marko confirmed that an approach had been made about Norris potentially driving for Toro Rosso as soon as next season, though Brown rebuked the request because it would have meant Norris severing ties with McLaren altogether.

Brown commented: "We're not going to train him up for someone else, but I don't think anyone else has any interest in training him up for us."

This leaves McLaren in a difficult predicament, because the smaller F1 teams have established relationships with the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull, meaning young drivers in their ranks have no obvious path into a seat in F1.

Brown sees this as a major problem, and said to Autosport that he thinks it is an issue that the FIA will need to investigate, or else some parts of the sport may become a closed shop.

"We don't have any sister teams," said Brown. "It's not ideal.

"I think it shows that the FIA needs to look closely into how much influence teams have over other teams, because what they're starting to do is to close down opportunities for people that are independent."