The FIA is currently in charge of managing the cost cap that all Formula 1 teams must operate under, but the president is not a fan of the system
F1 governing body chief Mohammed Ben Sulayem said he is rethinking the cost cap imposed on teams. The FIA president called the budget cap an administrative problem that has become something of a headache for the organisation.
And, speaking ahead of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem said he backs a suggestion by McLaren chief executive Zak Brown. The American proposed that Formula 1 teams accusing others should present a formal grievance alongside a “meaningful” monetary deposit.
Brown’s suggested plan would see the fund returned to the complainant if allegations are confirmed true but, if not, it would count towards the cost cap as an incentive to prevent unsubstantiated, harmful allegations.
Ben Sulayem said he likes the idea and that he was “studying” whether it would be a good idea to make it count against the budget cap. And it was when he mentioned it that the FIA president voiced his personal frustration with the system.
“I’m looking at the cost cap and it’s just giving the FIA a headache. So what’s the point of it?” Ben Sulayem from his office at the Hard Rock Stadium shortly before the Miami race. “I don’t see the point. I really don’t.”
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It was in 2021 that the cost cap was implemented as part of fresh regulations. They included restricted expenditures and an aerodynamic testing sliding scale to foster tighter racing competitions.
These financial rules limit the wealthier teams’ capacity for unlimited spending on development, which their less affluent counterparts can’t match. The FIA has set the cost cap for teams in the 2025 season at £105million.
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In Miami, McLaren chief Brown was wielding a bottle labelled “TIRE WATER” as a cheeky nod to Red Bull’s claims that McLaren manipulates its tyre temperatures with water. And he got Ben Sulayem nodding in approval about charging teams to make an accusation.
“You cannot just accuse someone without a written complaint, and that protest, you have to pay money,” declared the FIA chief. While Brown did not suggest an amount that teams should have to pay, Ben Sulayem hinted at a hefty £37,500 fee for lodging grievances.
On another note, Ben Sulayem confirmed that we can expect clarification on the driver code of conduct policy by next week. But he made it clear the ban on bad language remains non-negotiable in his eyes.
Under current regulations, drivers face fines for swearing during official FIA events – a rule that has sparked ire among racers from different series regulated by the authority. Ben Sulayem reiterated that, while updates are forthcoming regarding how the conduct code applies across various series, driver shouldn’t expect the ban on swearing to be lifted.
