Breaking News: FIA President Hints at REMOVAL of F1 Cost Cap Rule After…read more
Breaking News: FIA President Hints at REMOVAL of F1 Cost Cap Rule After…read more
In a stunning revelation during the 2025 Miami Grand Prix weekend, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has openly questioned the future of Formula 1’s cost cap regulation suggesting that it may no longer serve its intended purpose and could potentially be scrapped.
Introduced in 2021 to level the playing field and limit excessive spending by the sport’s wealthiest teams, the cost cap was seen as a key part of F1’s financial fair play strategy. For the 2025 season, the cap is set at $140.4 million (£106 million), applying strict limits to team operations—excluding driver salaries and top executive wages.
But Ben Sulayem expressed growing discontent with the rule’s complexity and the administrative burden it places on the FIA.
“I’m looking at the cost cap and it’s just giving the FIA a headache,” he told the Associated Press. “So what’s the point of it? I don’t see the point. I really don’t.”
His comments have ignited fresh debate within the F1 community about whether the cost cap is sustainable or even effective in its current form.
Fallout From Protest Drama
Ben Sulayem’s remarks came in the wake of heightened tensions at the Miami GP, where Red Bull filed an unsuccessful protest against Mercedes’ George Russell, alleging a yellow flag infringement. The protest, which was dismissed after a late-night review, underscored the growing concern among teams about procedural fairness and transparency.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown weighed in on the issue, proposing that teams should be required to pay a deposit when making formal complaints. If the allegations are upheld, the money would be returned—but if not, Brown suggested the amount should count against that team’s cost cap as a deterrent against frivolous or damaging accusations.
Ben Sulayem largely agreed with Brown’s suggestion regarding monetary deposits, but pushed back on the idea of penalizing teams via the cost cap over unproven protests—sparking his broader criticism of the rule itself.
“You cannot just accuse someone without a written complaint, and that protest, you have to pay money,” he added. “But to bring that into the cost cap? I’m not sure. The cost cap itself is becoming a problem.”
A Rule Under Fire
The cost cap has already faced scrutiny in past seasons, with Red Bull’s 2021 breach resulting in a $7 million fine and reduced wind tunnel testing. However, smaller teams continue to argue that enforcement is inconsistent and benefits teams with more sophisticated accounting resources.
Now, with the FIA president himself expressing doubt over its usefulness, the future of the rule appears uncertain. Critics argue that removing the cap would open the door to runaway spending by top teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes—potentially widening the performance gap once again.
Supporters of the rule, including many mid-field teams and fans, warn that abolishing it could undo years of work aimed at creating a more competitive and financially sustainable sport.
What Comes Next?
Ben Sulayem’s comments are not an official policy move—yet. But they reflect growing discontent at the highest level of F1 governance and could signal a potential shift in direction ahead of the next Concorde Agreement negotiations, which shape the commercial and regulatory framework of the sport.
