Mercedes skeptical about the Red Bull/AlphaTauri alliance

The recent move by Red Bull to form a closer working relationship with its junior team, AlphaTauri, has prompted both criticism and calls for Formula 1 to intervene.

However, Mercedes remains unconvinced such an alliance would yield any major competitive gains given F1's strict rules prohibiting information sharing between teams.

As AlphaTauri looks to revive its fortunes under incoming team principal, Laurent Mekies, the outfit is set to increase its dependence on parts and infrastructure from the senior Red Bull team.

The operations of both teams will also align more closely in the UK. McLaren chief Zak Brown has previously raised concerns about this alliance.

Mercedes downplays impact

Yet, Mercedes technical director, James Allison strikingly downplayed any upside for Red Bull from the alliance.

He believes current regulations comprehensively bar teams from passing any intellectual property or technical data that could potentially benefit a partner squad.

While greater integration is permitted on the commercial side, the rules eliminate scope for tangible technical gains.

As Allison asserted, "The way that rule is written is very broad and very powerful, and it pretty much makes any communication not permitted."

With F1 clamping down on team alliances after the success of Mercedes' prior partnership with Aston Martin, the restrictions in place give Mercedes confidence that little advantage can be gleaned.

No grounds for protest

Consequently, Mercedes perceives no basis to protest Red Bull's AlphaTauri plans unless proof emerges of rules being breached.

For Allison, "If two teams have a strong relationship with each other, it can only really be a strong commercial relationship, it cannot be a strong technical or a strong sporting relationship because the rules forbid that."

Given these regulations, Mercedes sees no merit in pursuing a similar alliance with another team.

The Silver Arrows operated under looser restrictions on information sharing and technical collaboration in supplying engines and parts to the Aston Martin outfit previously.

However, with the current complete ban on passing intellectual property or using partner team resources for technical gains, Mercedes stands unperturbed by any subversion.

As next season's sweeping F1 rules overhaul aims to bring the grid closer, the threat of unchecked team alliances has sparked unease.

Yet Mercedes appears unfazed, firmly reiterating its trust in the regulations eliminate any serious benefits.

Unless clear infringements surface, the team seems unlikely to echo McLaren's call for reining in junior team partnerships.

For now, claims of fairness being undermined seem overblown to the Silver Arrows.