Auto, Motor und Sport: 'FIA considers stricter budget cap due to coronavirus'

F1 News

30 March 2020 at 10:52
Last update 30 March 2020 at 12:23
  • GPblog.com

Formula 1 is struggling with the consequences of the coronavirus and it is therefore questionable how the sport and the teams can come out of this crisis. For now, new plans are being developed for the time being.

Before 2021 the F1 would start with new regulations, but the teams haven't signed all this yet. The plan has meanwhile been moved to 2022 and according to Auto, Motor und Sport. Teams have doubts about their future and a number of teams are concerned if they can survive.

Stricter budget cap

However, according to the German website, the FIA also sees new opportunities. With the drastic measures being taken around the coronavirus, there seems to be a unique opportunity to tighten the budget cap even more and, for the first time in history, really do something about the major financial differences.

In addition, the small teams are calling for more help in order to survive. The chassis will remain the same from 2020 to 2021, so teams don't have to spend too much on R&D, which is saving them money, but the small teams want more. Gearboxes and the transmission are parts that are also their wish list to change, but the top teams are prohibiting them.

Future of F1

Reportedly Mercedes is very quiet during the talks and Red Bull Racing and Ferrari have their reservations. They have found out that Mercedes is doing something special with their transmission and of course they want that on the car before 2021. Freezing the rules would mean that Mercedes would have an advantage on that part.

However, in addition to the current regulations, we also need to look at the engine regulations that are expiring and all those bureaucratic problems are on the board at Liberty Media. The question is what kind of solution they will come up with. One thing is certain: If we go racing again, the sport could just look completely different.