The FIA has clarified that it has no plans to introduce a price cap exemption for Ferrari in System 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 international inflation.
Audi, set to enter F1 as a works crew 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 authorised an extra price cap improve solely 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 present the one crew based mostly exterior the UK (previous to Cadillac’s anticipated entry), may also obtain an analogous allowance. Nevertheless, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has outlined the explanation why the Maranello crew won’t be granted an adjustment underneath the revised price cap guidelines.
Nikolas Tombazis defined to pick out media that the problem 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 straight 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 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 reaching the required degree of crew assist for changes geared toward equity throughout the extremely aggressive atmosphere of System 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 System 1’s governing physique arrived at its choice to grant Audi an elevated price cap, emphasizing that the transfer was primarily pushed by issues of equity towards the incoming crew. 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 vital disparities in salaries and residing prices throughout completely different nations, utilizing his personal expertise residing in Geneva for instance, the place even routine grocery store visits spotlight the problem.
He famous that underneath an equal price cap, a crew based mostly in a high-labor-cost nation like Switzerland would face an obstacle, probably having 30% to 40% fewer personnel engaged on the automotive. This imbalance, he acknowledged, was essentially 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 world championship.
He outlined that changes to the monetary rules for 2026 would tackle this concern by factoring labor price variations into the fee cap calculations. Nikolas Tombazis defended the change as totally truthful 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 may very well be raised concerning the equity of this method.
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