Each Formula 1 team has around 125 million euros at their disposal in the 2022 season. That is what the Financial Regulations want, although they do allow for a large number of exceptions. But that’s not the only reason why AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost assumes that top teams like Ferrari, Mercedes or Red Bull will continue to have an advantage.
Because according to Tost, the large Formula 1 racing teams had plenty of time to reduce their large workforce – but not without putting the many employees on the upcoming rule changes for Formula 1 2022. “The top teams benefited from this up until the summer of 2021,” says Tost.
He explains, “These teams were able to do more research and development, primarily with simulation. They were able to pursue different design philosophies to find the best solution for them.” With that, according to Tost, the big teams could be one step ahead of the small ones.
Why everything will be (even) better in Formula 1 in 2023
The new (financial) rules would lead to the goal in the medium term, Tost continues: “The gap between the top teams and the rest should be smaller, the cars move closer together.” Overall, he expects a “more compact field” and better entertainment for the viewers.
The upper budget limit as a spending cap for Formula 1 teams will only become noticeable afterwards, says Tost. Original sound: “The true effect will come into play in 2023. Then the maximum sum will be reduced again. And then no team will have an advantage anymore. Everyone will then be busy staying below the upper limit.”
In the 2023 season, this upper limit is around 120 million euros per team and year, after just under 129 million euros had been estimated in 2021 under the first budget cap in Formula 1 history. But AlphaTauri didn’t have to make any savings, says Tost: “We were already operating well below that.”
Being smart pays off
“The completely new vehicles [für 2022] but seem to be more expensive than the cars of previous years. That will make it difficult for the teams to stay under the limit. However, the performance will be closer together. And I think that’s a very positive thing.”
Jody Egginton, Technical Director of AlphaTauri, however, warns against too much euphoria and too much hope for surprises in Formula 1: “You can assume that the balance of power will level out. But you still have to spend your money as wisely as possible.”