P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Audi’s future Formula 1 rivals are pushing back against a cost cap boost that will benefit it most when it enters F1 in 2026 in place of Sauber
Audi’s upcoming entry into Formula 1 in 2026, taking over Sauber’s team based in Switzerland, is causing contention among the current F1 teams regarding a cost cap adjustment. While the cost cap was already set to increase for all teams to $215 million, an additional boost is being proposed to account for countries with higher wages, benefiting Audi the most. The Formula 1 Commission agreed to calculate a “consideration factor” based on the average annual wages of F1 teams relative to the country they are based in, to ensure a level playing field. This change has faced opposition from other teams, with Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu questioning why a team in Switzerland should have an exemption and emphasizing the complex factors involved in determining cost discrepancies across different locations. Komatsu expressed concerns about the challenges of accounting for all variables in the cost cap and criticized the FIA for pushing forward with the exemption despite widespread opposition from other teams.
