McLaren executive director Zak Brown has claimed he would be open to introducing a budget cap into Formula 1 as well as a reduced bonus payment system for certain teams.
Currently, a number of teams receive additional revenue from the commercial rights holder, now Liberty Media, on top of prize money and historical bonuses which are also only awarded to some outfits.
One of the first aspirations of Liberty, however, was to signal a goal of ending this culture by overhauling the distribution of revenue and trying to reduce the inequality between those spending $250m+, last year that being Mercedes and Ferrari, compared to less than $100m in the case of backmarkers Sauber.
Furthermore, the new leadership wants to see a reduction in costs for teams with a sensible limit put in place.
“Speaking for McLaren, we’re a fan of budget caps,” Brown was quoted by Autosport revealing what the team’s position will be in future talks. “We think it’s important as most other sports have it and it will equal the playing field.
“We recognise that means we’re one of the four teams that get special payments, [and] that might mean some compromise – but we feel if the sport is healthier ultimately that will benefit all of us.
“We’re a great racing team. There’s lots of great racing teams and we want to race and have the same chance as everyone else.”
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The issue has divided teams for decades now with arguments over the RRA (Resource Restriction Agreement) leading to the disbanding of the F1 teams association known as FOTA in 2012.
Considering whether there would be broader support for his approach, Brown admitted it is unlikely to be shared by those teams at the top as they enjoy the power both competitively and politically it gives them.
“I think those that can afford to raise the budget levels they are at will do everything they can to maintain that because that gives them a competitive advantage,” he claimed, “but it is a bit like having two extra players on the field in a football match.
“We need to get into a scenario where we are playing with somewhat the same sized bat.”
He concluded by suggesting a budget cap was somewhat inevitable although did acknowledge it would require a lot of careful planning.
“I think there will be some sort of budget constraint/cap,” he said. “I don’t think it is a random number you put out there. I think you need to help the teams get down to a more manageable level.
“So I do think, unlike has ever been done in this sport, I think there will be some budget management put in place – whether it is a cap in certain areas. I do think budgets will come down which is long overdue.”
