Marko sees 'big problems' due to budget cap: 'McLaren is strong in this'
F1 News
Helmut Marko is hugely concerned about the budget cap and the impact it is having on the sport. According to the Red Bull advisor, making the car faster is a lot more difficult in 2025, as all upgrades 'have' to be a success due to their cost. In addition, according to the Austrian, it is difficult to find staff, especially now that Cadillac is also joining.
It looks like Red Bull will start the 2025 Formula 1 season on the backfoot. Despite the bright minds in the team's roster, Marko says it will not be easy to close the gap. "The budget cap is a big problem," the Austrian told Auto Motor und Sport. "The finance department [of Red Bull Racing] employs more than 40 people. If our head of technology Pierre Waché wants something, he has to go there first. Then the calculation takes place. What does this cost? Can we pay for this? Is this a responsible investment?"
The Red Bull chief advisor continues: "The more inefficient you are, the greater the impact. An upgrade that doesn't work is a waste of money in two ways." On the one hand, the development you've pumped money into isn't paying off, and on the other, because you can't then allocate those resources toward a different part. "McLaren is incredibly strong there," he stresses. "Every upgrade will work, and that efficiency pays off in other places."
Red Bull afraid of Cadillac?
From 2026, Cadillac joins the grid as the 11th Formula 1 team. Asked if he fears losing staff to the American team, Marko responds, "New teams are not the only problem. People are also being pulled away from outside. You used to attract staff with the fascination for Formula 1, but that has changed."
"The pool in the labour market has become smaller. Young people are more concerned about work-life balance. Of course the 24 races and the pressure to succeed scare them." That's really not the only problem, though, at least according to the Austrian. "Also financially you can't keep up anymore because of the budget cap, people make more money in the industry for less work."
This article was written in collaboration with Kimberley Hoefnagel.
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