F1, clash over the budget limit: Ferrari returns to threaten the farewell – La Stampa

TORINO. Ferrari returns to threaten the farewell to Formula 1. It has not happened since October, since the negotiation on the new aerodynamic rules 2021 (then postponed to 2022 due to coronavirus) seemed an insurmountable obstacle. “The DNA of this sport is at stake,” said team principal Mattia Binotto on the eve of the last Japanese GP, trying to avoid the imposition of standard single-seaters or the same components for all teams. Now he chooses the same words, in an interview with the Guardian, worried by the imposition of spending limits that are too low for the coming seasons, a topic which Liberty Media is discussing with the stables to face the looming economic crisis due to the pandemic.

Jobs to be saved
The annual budget cap was already included in the 2021 regulation package and on 31 October it was decided to set it at 175 million dollars, about 162 million euros. Too many, according to some teams, in light of the nine races already postponed or canceled this season, so during the summit last week between the team principals, the FIA ​​and Liberty Media would face the possibility of lowering it to 145 million dollars ( 134 in euros) in 2021 and 130 (120) in 2022. Figures that Binotto, supported by Christian Horner of Red Bull, is not willing to consider also to safeguard several jobs, while for example McLaren pushes to reach 100 million : “Already moving to 145 is a new and demanding request – the leader of the Redhead explained to the Guardian -, a goal that can only be achieved with other sacrifices in terms of human resources. If it goes down again, we wouldn’t want to be forced to evaluate other further options to express our racing DNA ».

The hypothesis of providing single-seaters to customers in crisis
Ferrari, the only team ever present since the birth of F1 in 1950, fears that limiting costs excessively “will considerably reduce the level of F1, which must be the pinnacle of motor sport, bringing it closer to the lower categories”. Hence the need, according to Binotto, “not to react in a hurry while being aware of the moment of difficulty that affects everyone”, trying instead to deepen the discussion: for example taking into account the additional costs incurred by those who, like the Red, supply engines to customers. And possibly, in the event that the crisis would cast doubt on the survival of some teams, it would also provide them with single-seaters, exceptionally. “It has already happened in F1 – concludes Binotto – and it happens for example in MotoGp”.