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Exclusive: Newey identifies ‘hidden’ F1 problem: ‘We’re no longer the best’
In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365, Adrian Newey criticized an unintended consequence of Formula 1’s cost cap. The budget limit of $145 million USD per team for the 2021 season aimed to control costs and level the playing field among the 10 teams. Exceptions to the limit, like marketing costs and top earners, are adjusted annually based on inflation and external influences. To comply with the cost cap, larger teams like Mercedes and Newey’s Red Bull had to downsize staff or transition away from F1 due to the FIA’s TD45 regulation. Despite efforts to promote equality among teams, Newey’s Red Bull design team has dominated 41 out of 48 ground effects races under the new regulations. Newey expressed concerns that the cost cap has led to F1 losing its status as the highest-paid engineering discipline, diminishing their ability to attract top talent from universities. Discussions are ongoing between teams and the FIA regarding potential changes to the cost cap structure, while the cap’s stability has increased the value of teams and set them on a profitable trajectory. To read more from RacingNews365’s exclusive interview with Adrian Newey, visit the provided links.
