The FIA has clarified that it has no plans to introduce a price cap exemption for Ferrari in Components 1, even after granting an analogous exception to Audi.
Beginning in 2026, the fee cap for F1 groups will improve 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 world 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 residing is considerably larger than within the UK. Consequently, the FIA has authorised a further value cap improve completely for Audi, a call that has sparked discontent among the many different 9 groups.
This exception has raised questions on whether or not Ferrari, at the moment the one group primarily based outdoors the UK (previous to Cadillac’s anticipated entry), may additionally obtain an analogous allowance. Nevertheless, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has outlined the explanation why the Maranello group won’t be granted an adjustment below the revised value cap guidelines.
Nikolas Tombazis defined to pick media that the difficulty of wage disparities between groups is extra nuanced, because it includes contemplating the challenges of recruiting personnel from different groups, together with the upper prices related to such strikes. When requested instantly whether or not Ferrari would possibly obtain an exemption, he emphasised that the main focus ought to stay on international locations with considerably larger labor prices, particularly citing Switzerland within the present context.
The racing automotive designer went on for example 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 issue of attaining the required degree of group help for changes geared toward equity throughout the extremely aggressive setting of Components 1. He concluded by reiterating that making certain equity stays a elementary accountability for the FIA.
FIA Clarifies Resolution on Ferrari Exemption
Nikolas Tombazis elaborated on how Components 1’s governing physique arrived at its determination to grant Audi an elevated value 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 issues that any side of the method is likely to be perceived as clandestine or unfair.
Nikolas Tombazis defined that the FIA acknowledged important disparities in salaries and residing prices throughout totally different international locations, utilizing his personal expertise residing in Geneva for example, the place even routine grocery store visits spotlight the difficulty.
He famous that below an equal value cap, a group primarily based in a high-labor-cost nation like Switzerland would face a drawback, doubtlessly 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 tackle this situation by factoring labor value variations into the fee cap calculations. Nikolas Tombazis defended the change as solely honest and emphasised that the FIA would improve transparency across the regulation to reassure groups involved about potential underhanded practices. He expressed confidence that no cheap 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
