The teams are divided on the increase of the budget ceiling
Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull are advocating for an increase in the budget cap implemented for 2022. Günther Steiner, the boss of Haas, sees no benefit in changing the rules meant to bring the smaller teams closer to the top teams. This position is also shared by Alpine and Alfa Romeo.
This season marks a major financial upheaval for teams with the introduction of the budget cap. Now, each team can spend up to 140 million dollars throughout the season, excluding certain costs such as the highest salaries, for example. This measure has been taken in an attempt to reduce the gap between the top spending teams and the rest of the field.
If on track, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes still dominate the top positions, the three teams agree that the budget cap is too low and advocate for its increase.
“I think there will be no way for us to stay below, so I’m almost certain that at some point we will surpass it,” explains Mattia Binotto, the director of Ferrari. “I don’t think there is a way for us and for many teams to stay within the budget limits, even by laying off people, and I don’t think that is the right choice.”
A position shared by Red Bull and Christian Horner, the director of the Austrian team.
« I think we need clarity quickly. Simply because it’s not normal for us to be held hostage by a few teams that might not even be involved. That was never the purpose of the budget cap. The budget cap was there to prevent the top teams from going on a spending frenzy.
» regrets the British.
Horner had already announced a few weeks ago that Red Bull might be forced to miss the last races of the season if the budget cap was not increased. But not everyone agrees, especially the smaller teams, who are favored by the budget limit. The Haas boss, Günther Steiner, does not think that the budget should be increased.
« It’s a mix. I think, as I’ve always said, that nothing will change in the short term, but in the medium and long term, I believe that teams will continue to come closer together. However, we should not change the budget cap and increase it now because it’s beneficial for the battles in the midfield.
» explains the Italo-American.
« We never know who is the best among the others. And I think that if we continue with the budget cap and with the rules, it will bring us even closer to the top teams. I think there are nine teams that would be delighted [if Red Bull were to miss races]. Ferrari will certainly be happy if they don’t come to the last four races! » Steiner jokes.
Haas can count on the support of other teams like Alpine and Alfa Romeo, who do not wish to change the rules established at the beginning of the season.
