Formula 1 is at a crossroads because of Corona. With McLaren, Williams, Alfa Romeo and Racing Point four teams have already registered short-time work. One thing is certain: Revenue is falling. 22 races were planned. The premier class will no longer be able to implement them all.
This also means that the teams will receive less money.
This situation offers THE chance to the small teams. They now have all the arguments on their side to lower the budget limit of $ 175 million planned from 2021 ownwards – further reducing the gap between rich and poor.
Their goal: a budget of 100 million euros per year. But they would already be satisfied with 125 million.
Red Bull and Ferrari are against that. They’d be pinned down to $ 150 million. Not less.
“We have to preserve the DNA of Formula 1”, said Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto. “It’s about the teams’ competition. We have to set the right priorities and make rational decisions. You shouldn’t let yourself be guided too much by the emotions. ”
Ferrari warns against layoffs in times of crisis – of all things in the Corona-shaken northern Italy.
Binotto argues that manufacturing teams have to spend more money than customers and campaigns for a two-tier budget cap. The Italian: “Factory teams like Ferrari develop, design, homologate and produce every single part of the car. Other teams are customers who just buy some parts. ”
According to Binotto, this factor should also be included in the budget cap topic: “We have to find a common line that takes into account the different situations of the teams. Perhaps the answer is not a fixed budget cap that is the same for everyone. ”
The question remains why Mercedes is so quiet? The world champion team is never mentioned together with Red Bull and Ferrari when it comes to the budget limit. Only red and blue defend themselves against further lowering the limit below $ 150 million – but not silver.
According to information from F1-Insider.com, the silence of Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff has calculus. Background: The Mercedes factory team is supposed to finance itself in the future, so the wish from the group management in Stuttgart.
Since then, Wolff has been campaigning for the target to be met. He already said to BILD in February:
“The costs for Mercedes in Formula 1 decrease every year. Our goal is even to maintain the Formula 1 team cost-neutral within the next two years. ”That would mean that the Daimler Group in Stuttgart is dropping its financial commitment from the currently estimated 75 million euros completely to zero.
The necessary layoffs would be easier to justify with a further decrease in the budget limit.
McLaren boss Zak Brown is therefore increasing the pressure on Ferrari and Red Bull. “They are playing with fire, they are driving against themselves at some point. And that will not work. Daimler is doing an excellent job and recognizes the situation we are in.“
