Smaller F1 teams target budget cap reduction to $100M!

Formula 1’s smaller teams, who are most vulnerable to the sport’s economic downturn following the coronavirus crisis, are seeking a reduction of next year’s budget cap from $170 to $100 million.

A disrupted 2020 championship which may not get underway until the late summer is set to inflict massive pain on F1, with revenues falling across the board for Liberty Media, the sport’s commercial rights holder, but also for the teams which are preparing for a significant drop in financial revenue.

Formula 1 is attempting to mitigate the effects of the shortfall with a series of measures destined to reduce costs for the teams.

    Szafnauer: ‘Crucial’ for smaller teams to have unchanged cars for 2021

Next season’s scheduled regulation overhaul has been delayed to 2022 while teams will carry over into next year their 2020 chassis designs as well as a list of yet-to-be-determined components, a move that will compress costs this year.

It has been reported that F1 is mulling a freeze on engine development from 2021 to further rein in costs

However, F1’s smaller participants – team such as Williams, has or Alfa Romeo – are lobbying for a reduction of the budget cap that comes into force next year from $170M to $100M.

FIA president Jean Todt has argued for a reduction to $150M, a level that would suit Mercedes and Renault, but Ferrari and Red Bull appear to be at odds with their rivals.

©Williams