The FIA has clarified that it has no plans to introduce a value cap exemption for Ferrari in System 1, even after granting the same exception to Audi.
Beginning in 2026, the associated fee 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 international inflation.
Audi, set to enter F1 as a works staff in partnership with Sauber, will function out of the Hinwil manufacturing facility in Switzerland, the place the price of dwelling is considerably greater than within the UK. Because of this, the FIA has authorised an extra 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 staff based mostly outdoors the UK (previous to Cadillac’s anticipated entry), may additionally obtain the same allowance. Nevertheless, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has outlined the the reason why the Maranello staff won’t 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 immediately whether or not Ferrari may 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 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 staff help for changes aimed toward equity throughout the extremely aggressive surroundings of System 1. He concluded by reiterating that making certain equity stays a basic accountability for the FIA.
FIA Clarifies Determination on Ferrari Exemption
Nikolas Tombazis elaborated on how System 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 staff. He additional assured that the FIA would keep full transparency with the opposite groups, addressing issues that any facet of the method is perhaps perceived as clandestine or unfair.
Nikolas Tombazis defined that the FIA acknowledged important disparities in salaries and dwelling prices throughout completely different nations, utilizing his personal expertise dwelling in Geneva for example, the place even routine grocery store visits spotlight the difficulty.
He famous that underneath an equal value cap, a staff 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 said, was basically unfair.
From the FIA’s perspective, Nikolas Tombazis added, such a state of affairs 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 challenge by factoring labor value variations into the associated fee 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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