The FIA has clarified that it has no plans to introduce a price cap exemption for Ferrari in Method 1, even after granting an identical exception to Audi.
Beginning in 2026, the price cap for F1 groups will improve from $135 million USD (roughly £108.1 million GBP) to $215 million USD (£172.2 million GBP). This adjustment displays the added bills related to implementing new technical rules and addressing world inflation.
Audi, set to enter F1 as a works workforce in partnership with Sauber, will function out of the Hinwil manufacturing unit in Switzerland, the place the price of residing is considerably greater than within the UK. Because of this, the FIA has accepted an extra price cap improve solely for Audi, a choice that has sparked discontent among the many different 9 groups.
This exception has raised questions on whether or not Ferrari, presently the one workforce based mostly exterior the UK (previous to Cadillac’s anticipated entry), may additionally obtain an identical allowance. Nevertheless, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has outlined the explanation why the Maranello workforce is not going to be granted an adjustment beneath the revised price cap guidelines.
Nikolas Tombazis defined to pick out media that the problem of wage disparities between groups is extra nuanced, because it entails contemplating the challenges of recruiting personnel from different groups, together with the upper prices related to such strikes. When requested instantly whether or not Ferrari may obtain an exemption, he emphasised that the main target ought to stay on international locations with considerably greater labor prices, particularly citing Switzerland within the present context.
The racing automotive designer went on as an example his level with a metaphor, suggesting that in a “democracy” the place there are 9 wolves and one sheep, it turns into clear who holds the bulk. Whereas stressing the significance of equity and consensus, Nikolas Tombazis acknowledged the issue of attaining the required degree of workforce help for changes aimed toward equity throughout the extremely aggressive setting of Method 1. He concluded by reiterating that guaranteeing equity stays a elementary duty for the FIA.
FIA Clarifies Determination on Ferrari Exemption
Nikolas Tombazis elaborated on how Method 1’s governing physique arrived at its resolution to grant Audi an elevated price cap, emphasizing that the transfer was primarily pushed by concerns of equity towards the incoming workforce. He additional assured that the FIA would keep full transparency with the opposite groups, addressing considerations that any side of the method is likely to be perceived as clandestine or unfair.
Nikolas Tombazis defined that the FIA acknowledged vital disparities in salaries and residing prices throughout completely different international locations, utilizing his personal expertise residing in Geneva for instance, the place even routine grocery store visits spotlight the problem.
He famous that beneath an equal price cap, a workforce based mostly in a high-labor-cost nation like Switzerland would face an obstacle, probably having 30% to 40% fewer personnel engaged on the automotive. This imbalance, he said, was basically unfair.
From the FIA’s perspective, Nikolas Tombazis added, such a state of affairs might render groups in high-cost areas unsustainable, forcing operations like Sauber to both relocate or stop operations altogether—an final result the FIA deemed unsuitable for a world championship.
He outlined that changes to the monetary rules for 2026 would deal with this challenge by factoring labor price variations into the price cap calculations. Nikolas Tombazis defended the change as totally honest and emphasised that the FIA would improve transparency across the regulation to reassure groups involved about potential underhanded practices. He expressed confidence that no affordable doubts may very well be raised in regards to the equity of this strategy.
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