Wolff approves of cost cap in Formula 1

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Published on 26 Apr 2014 12:34
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By: Tom Brooks

Toto Wolff has stated that he would approve of a cost cap system being implemented into Formula 1.

Originally proposed in 2009 to try and increase the number of smaller teams on the grid in the sport, the idea was initially rejected due to larger teams not being in favour of the change, believing that as much money necessary should be put into development.

The ever increasing costs of the sport in regards not only to development, but logistics also has sparked FIA President Jean Todt to propose the idea of re-introducing a cost cap for 2015 in order to cut the gap between the front and rear of the field, and allow a far more level playing field for the teams with less resources.

However, teams such as Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, Williams, Lotus and McLaren vetoed the idea, thus causing the cap to be put on hold as the majority were not in favour.

Mercedes Executive Director of Business, Toto Wolff, commented on the idea of the system being implemented in the near future; "Personally, I am in favour of a cost cap." said the Austrian

"However, as a team we have realised that some of the larger outfits on the grid could not, or would not, go down that route. Ferrari is a good example. They have all of their operations – both motorsport and road car production – under one entity, making it difficult to screen everything.

“It would not make sense for us to push against two or three of the big teams for the sake of the principle of a cost cap. It is, however, worth following these discussions up by exploring methods that work for everybody.

"Again, as a team we are in favour of a cost cap or ceiling: both to avoid a spending war between the biggest outfits and also to reduce the gap throughout the grid in this respect.”

He later commented on the future of development in Formula 1 and how the rules would need to be policed in order to be put in place: “Engineers are always going to find loopholes: if something is reduced on the left, possibilities will be found on the right.

"Then there have also been initiatives such as curfews and the parc ferme rule. At the time, people were complaining, saying that the cars needed to be worked on overnight or they would be unsafe to race. But we've seen that everything has worked very well under these conditions."

Tom Brooks
Chief UK Editor

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