F1 CEO Calls for Stricter Penalties as Top Teams Walk Budget Cap Tightrope
Jul.19 - Three Formula 1 teams are reportedly at risk of breaching the sport's budget cap rules.
Last year, Red Bull and Aston Martin fell afoul of the spending limit - but F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali thinks the penalties should be harsher in future.
"I would like the penalties to be sporting," Motorsport Italia quotes him as saying.
"It is worth moving in that direction rather than the other."
Recently, it emerged that the FIA is putting a closer eye on top teams Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin for supposed clever staff accounting between their F1 operations and non-racing subsidiaries.
"It's so complex," said Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer, "that inevitably there are loopholes.
"What we need to do, going forward on the operational side, is close some of those loopholes," he explained. "The only reason to close them is so that the playing field is level.
"Once we have that level playing field and those who have more financial ability can't spend it, then the field will get a little bit closer.
"That's good for the fans and it's good for motor racing," said Szafnauer.
At the same time, some teams - including Alpine but also Williams - are pushing for a relaxing of the budget cap rules in the area of capital expenditure like wind tunnels and other facilities.
"If we do a good job on equalising the infrastructure as well as closing some of the (operational expenditure) loopholes that exist, then for sure it'll help," said Szafnauer.
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This is F1, the most technologically advanced form of racing in the world. If you want an equal playing field then make the teams run a spec car. Otherwise let the teams run the best car they can imagine and unlimited money can buy. Bring back the days when a team could imagine and build a car like the 6 wheel Tyrrell. No budget cap and run whatcha brung. I dont care if the cars make 500, 000 HP and produce 50,000 tons of HC a lap, its F1 baby......Lets Go!!! Lets Go !!!
Agree with the spirit of that, but then that leads to a predictable season.
So here's one solution. Each team dreams up a car within the rules but the drivers are freelance and are rotated around the cars - thus separating drivers and manufacturers.
Drivers of course need to be of equal dimensions.
Totally agree Tommy. Either one or the other.