The FIA has clarified that it has no plans to introduce a price cap exemption for Ferrari in Method 1, even after granting an identical exception to Audi.
Beginning in 2026, the price 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 world inflation.
Audi, set to enter F1 as a works group in partnership with Sauber, will function out of the Hinwil manufacturing facility in Switzerland, the place the price of residing is considerably greater than within the UK. Because of this, the FIA has authorized a further value 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, at present the one group based mostly exterior the UK (previous to Cadillac’s anticipated entry), may also obtain an identical allowance. Nonetheless, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has outlined the the explanation why the Maranello group is not going to be granted an adjustment underneath 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 target ought to stay on nations 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 reaching the required degree of group help for changes geared toward equity inside the extremely aggressive atmosphere of Method 1. He concluded by reiterating that making certain equity stays a basic duty for the FIA.
FIA Clarifies Choice on Ferrari Exemption
Nikolas Tombazis elaborated on how Method 1’s governing physique arrived at its resolution to grant Audi an elevated value cap, emphasizing that the transfer was primarily pushed by issues 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 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 nations, utilizing his personal expertise residing in Geneva for example, the place even routine grocery store visits spotlight the difficulty.
He famous that underneath an equal value cap, a group based mostly 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 said, was essentially unfair.
From the FIA’s perspective, Nikolas Tombazis added, such a scenario might render groups in high-cost areas unsustainable, forcing operations like Sauber to both relocate or stop operations altogether—an consequence the FIA deemed unsuitable for a world championship.
He outlined that changes to the monetary rules for 2026 would tackle this subject by factoring labor value variations into the price 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 cheap doubts might be raised concerning the equity of this method.
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