The FIA has clarified that it has no plans to introduce a price cap exemption for Ferrari in Formulation 1, even after granting an identical exception to Audi.
Beginning in 2026, the fee cap for F1 groups will enhance 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 international inflation.
Audi, set to enter F1 as a works group in partnership with Sauber, will function out of the Hinwil manufacturing unit in Switzerland, the place the price of dwelling is considerably greater than within the UK. Consequently, the FIA has accepted an extra price cap enhance completely 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 group primarily based exterior the UK (previous to Cadillac’s anticipated entry), may additionally obtain an identical allowance. Nonetheless, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has outlined the explanation why the Maranello group won’t be granted an adjustment underneath the revised price cap guidelines.
Nikolas Tombazis defined to pick media that the difficulty 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 straight whether or not Ferrari may obtain an exemption, he emphasised that the main focus 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 instance 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 problem of attaining the required degree of group help for changes aimed toward equity throughout the extremely aggressive surroundings of Formulation 1. He concluded by reiterating that making certain equity stays a basic accountability for the FIA.
FIA Clarifies Choice on Ferrari Exemption
Nikolas Tombazis elaborated on how Formulation 1’s governing physique arrived at its choice to grant Audi an elevated price cap, emphasizing that the transfer was primarily pushed by concerns of equity towards the incoming group. He additional assured that the FIA would keep full transparency with the opposite groups, addressing considerations that any facet of the method could be perceived as clandestine or unfair.
Nikolas Tombazis defined that the FIA acknowledged vital disparities in salaries and dwelling prices throughout totally different international locations, utilizing his personal expertise dwelling in Geneva for example, the place even routine grocery store visits spotlight the difficulty.
He famous that underneath an equal price cap, a group primarily based in a high-labor-cost nation like Switzerland would face a drawback, probably having 30% to 40% fewer personnel engaged on the automotive. This imbalance, he acknowledged, was basically unfair.
From the FIA’s perspective, Nikolas Tombazis added, such a state of affairs may 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 worldwide championship.
He outlined that changes to the monetary rules for 2026 would deal with this subject by factoring labor price variations into the fee cap calculations. Nikolas Tombazis defended the change as completely honest and emphasised that the FIA would enhance transparency across the regulation to reassure groups involved about potential underhanded practices. He expressed confidence that no affordable doubts might be raised in regards to the equity of this strategy.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
