Ferrari accepts Formula 1 needs a more equal financial playing field to improve both the spectacle and appeal, says Ross Brawn.
Currently, the Italian team receives more money than any other on the grid regardless of their performance due to a heritage clause in their commercial rights deal.
In fact, when Liberty first took over F1 in 2017, Ferrari’s special payment, which other teams also get but in lesser amounts, was the first they pointed at as something they wanted to remove.
“There is too much disparity between the top two or three teams and the rest of the grid,” Brawn, the current motorsport director for F1, was quoted by Crash.net as saying.
“You have a group of teams that could finish last and still earn more than the team that have won the world championship.
“We have to recognise the importance and history of Ferrari and the unique place they have in the sport but we also have to find a balance between that recognition and an equitable position for the rest,” he added.
“We know that if we have a more equitable distribution of revenue, we will have a better F1.”
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Levelling revenue distribution is something Liberty wants to do from 2021 under a new Concorde Agreement, though it does seem the reported $70m will only be reduced rather than taken away altogether.
Brawn admits that achieving that compromise will be tough, however.
“You are never going to attract new teams when you have such unfair distribution,” he noted.
“Ferrari recognise that, but they will fight tooth and nail for the best they can, but logic will have a fair part in trying to find a solution.”