Ferrari campaigns for a two-story budget cap

Be careful, the red flag is waving! No, not that of an interruption of the race, but that of the threat of a start of Ferrari for the Formula 1. Like a toreador waves a scarlet-colored cloth to push the bull to its limits, Mattia Binotto decided to brandish the specter of an end to the Scuderia's presence in F1.

The statements of the Team Principal of the Italian team to the British media The Guardian ignited the powder. Mattia Binotto explains that the proposals from second-tier teams, requesting the introduction of a new budgetary ceiling, even more restrictive than that decreed in mid-2019 for application in 2021, hardly fit with the DNA of the Scuderia Ferrari.

As a reminder, the teams and the FIA ​​have agreed on a $175 million limit (160 million euros) for next season, but some teams are campaigning for more severe austerity. McLaren for example stated the maximum figure of 100 million dollars (92 million euros).

“This sum could not be achieved without entailing considerable sacrifices, especially in terms of human resources, explains Mattia Binotto. If this budget were to fall further, we would not want to put ourselves in the position of seeking other options to deploy our racing DNA. »

Behind these words worthy of a seasoned politician lies the threat of the Scuderia withdrawing from sport. A strategy deployed many times by the Scuderia, aware of its influence in the strategic and economic domain of F1. The only team to have participated in every season of the competition since 1950, Ferrari does not hesitate to use this tactic in order to make itself heard and keep its advantageous position, particularly in terms of revenue. 

Once the threat has been addressed, the Swiss engineer can defend the Scuderia plan: a two-level budgetary ceiling, which would satisfy both the second-rate teams and the three top teams (Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull). 

This reform would be relevant according to Ferrari in the possibility that teams would start buying single-seaters from manufacturers (including Ferrari obviously) with the idea of ​​reducing costs. The reference teams could continue to spend more money, among other things on R&D (Research & Development), and Haas, Racing Point and co would save tidy sums. 

This attitude hardly satisfies Renault, including its Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul explained to AUTOhebdo who should have “be careful not to question everything”. “We are more in favor of simple things, namely only modifying a ceiling. Starting to imagine different ceilings depending on whether you are a manufacturer, engine manufacturer, or customer team, these are complicated things and are not necessary. »

UPDATE :

Ferrari announced this Thursday, April 23, that Mattia Binotto did not threaten to leave Formula 1. His remarks were aimed at the reorganization of the Scuderia's personnel, which would be necessary in the event of an extreme lowering of the budget ceiling. The Team Principal does not wish to reassign part of its employees to other programs outside of F1 in order to save employment.