0:08 - “Teams Must Sue the FIA” 1:30 - Cost Cap Won’t Be Effective in 2021
2:52 - Fast Feed
“Teams Must Sue the FIA”
One news that has embittered the F1 world recently has been Ferrari’s secret agreement with the FIA regarding the 2019 engine investigations. The other teams haven’t taken kindly to this and have been demanding answers.
Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone gave his rather strong thoughts on the matter
“The teams must sue the FIA.”
He explained why such an action was warranted
"It is about millions of dollars, which I think they are entitled to. If Ferrari was so innocent, why didn't they make the settlement with Jean Todt public? To me, that looks like a confession.”
He recalled his days of mediating such issues and feels that it is already too late to settle this amicably.
“There have always been fires that I had to put out as a fireman. In my time, however, it was always possible to find a middle way with the teams, the FIA and myself. Now that is too late.”
Renault’s director Cyril Abiteboul, however, wants to give the FIA a chance to explain the whole thing so that they all can move on
"What we want is for the FIA and F1, to promote the reputation of the championship, to understand that they have to explain this story so that we can leave this case behind us. We want that, but we first need more certainty.”
“It is important for us to know what led to this decision. We therefore do not necessarily complain about changing the outcome of their investigation [the settlement behind closed doors], but to understand whether such treatment is also available to others."
Many feel that this might only lead to a lot of uneasiness unless things are made a lot clearer regarding the settlement.
Cost Cap Won’t Be Effective in 2021
One of the biggest selling points of the 2021 change in regulations is the cost cap. This will limit spending in a bid to reduce the gap between the big teams and the small teams in F1.
However, there are some who are sceptical about the whole idea and feel that enforcing and policing this budget cap will be a problem.
One way around the budget cap is to do as much R&D in 2020 itself before the new regulations come into force.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown spoke about the regulation changes
"I think it's a great first step.”
And explained why such a cap is necessary
"I think we're getting substantially outspent. If you look at the grid order, it pretty much lines up by who spends what.”
He, however, feels that only five out of the 10 teams will actually be subjected to the effects of a budget cap from the beginning itself
"And when the cost cap comes in, I think you'll have five teams running at the cost cap, and therefore anything can happen within those five."
Those five teams are expected to spend in advance to get a head start and Zak Brown laid down the possible timeline by which the field which actually level up because of the cap on spending.
"I do think it's going to take a couple of years for the cost cap to have much real impact, because people are going to be spending now for '21.”
"So I think it's going to be '22 or '23 before you see the real impact of the cost cap."
Fast Feed
- Ferrari has announced that their employees have been given permission to enter Australia
- Alpha Tauri team principal Franz Tost has revealed that they "cannot wait until November-December” for the 2021 gearbox from Red Bull and will need it latest by September so they can properly develop the 2021 car
- F1 managing director Ross Brawn has confirmed that “the race weekend” at Bahrain will be closed to live spectators but “will still go ahead as a televised event”
- He also feels that "[the deal with] Netflix wasn't overly profitable” but “it was fantastic for Formula 1 in terms of greater range"
- He further shed some light on “facing the health challenges” and confirmed that every “sensible precaution” is being taken to “maintain the sport in the safest possible way”
- Renault driver Esteban Ocon feels that “2019 has certainly made” him “a stronger driver”
- Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wants “to fight for the title” in 2020
- Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton considers “being carbon neutral” ”really, really key and important" for his team
- Ferrari Boss Mattia Binotto has revealed that “the team comes first” and that “there is not much to tell” his drivers about their intra-team rivalry
- Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey has confirmed that the F1 is "heading to Melbourne, heading to Bahrain and heading to Hanoi" despite the problems constant speculation
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