MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The head of Formula 1’s regulatory body is examining the spending limit imposed on teams and is contemplating its removal due to the significant challenges faced by the FIA in overseeing it.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem also stated prior to the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday that he backs a suggestion put forward by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown which calls for mandating that teams must not make certain alterations.
accusations made against someone else to file an official grievance accompanied by a financial deposit.
Brown proposed that the funds should be refunded if the accusations turned out to be accurate; however, they ought to be deducted from the spending limit even if proven false, serving as a disincentive for unfounded and harmful assertions.
Ben Sulayem aims to implement this rule but is “assessing” whether it should be factored into the cost cap. This consideration prompted him to express dissatisfaction with the whole cost cap framework, wherein the FIA has to examine every team’s yearly expenditures to ensure compliance with the set budget limit.
“I’m examining the cost cap, and it’s causing the FIA quite a bit of distress. So, what’s the purpose of having it?” Ben Sulayem stated from his trackside office roughly an hour prior to the race taking place at Hard Rock Stadium.
I truly fail to see the reasoning behind this. Really, I don’t get it at all.
The cost cap was introduced in 2021 with new rules that restricts spending and a sliding scale of aerodynamic and CFD testing – financial regulations that has made the competition closer. The cost caps prevent the bigger teams from being able to endlessly spend on development that the smaller teams cannot afford.
The spending limit for the 2025 season will be set at $140.4 million.
Regarding Brown’s proposal, which he introduced in Miami by showcasing a bottle marked “TIRE WATER” to counter Red Bull Racing’s claims that McLaren might be tampering with their tire temperatures using water, Ben Sulayem completely concurred with imposing fees on teams making such allegations.
You can’t simply make an accusation without a formal written complaint, and for that protest, you must pay a fee,” stated Ben Sulayem, who mentioned that the possible charge could be as high as $50,000.
Ben Sulayem stated that he anticipates the clarification regarding the driver code of conduct will be finished by next week. However, he made it clear that he has no intention of reversing the ban on profanity. Starting this season, drivers can face fines if they use foul language during official FIA events, a regulation that has drawn significant criticism from racers across various series overseen by the organization.
Ben Sulayem mentioned that the explanations forthcoming will deal with how the code of conduct is implemented for separate events, however, he has no intention of removing the profanity ban.
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Jenna Fryer, from The Associated Press
