The cost freeze in F1 helped Alfa Romeo survive, says Vasseur

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, which also had a drastic impact on F1’s finances, the teams agreed to postpone the new regulations for a year until 2022, while carrying over their current chassis to 2021 and development work on the cars with a token restrict system.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Vasseur believes these measures were critical to keeping the former Sauber team afloat and said he was grateful that all F1 teams had come to an agreement.

“It’s never easy to make a move because you’re always a little afraid of giving someone else or another team an advantage,” said Vasseur.

“We were in such a difficult situation that we had to [agree to a reduced cost cap and development freeze]. At this point we could also imagine that some teams would have been more drastic against it.

“When you feel like you’re not performing in Barcelona [during testing]You don’t want to freeze the car for the next 18 months.

“Fortunately that happened because I’m not sure we could have survived.”

Vasseur, whose team weathered a difficult season to finish eighth in the Constructors’ Championship, believes 2020 will be a political “revolution” for F1 as the pandemic forced teams to work closer together.

“It would have been less difficult than before,” he chuckled. “Of course you can see the solidarity of the group even in difficult times.

“In a couple of weeks, with the cost cap cut, the regulations changed, and the fact that the FOM was able to create an incredible calendar for 17 races, we did a lot more than we had in the last 10 years in a couple of weeks and everyone’s agility Teams to switch from one calendar to another.

“So many things have happened in such a short amount of time that I think it was like a revolution in the way F1 thought.

“Now we have to keep this attitude because I think we will probably have to face new problems in the future. And that means that we can improve the situation quite quickly by working together.”

Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal of Alfa Romeo Racing

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

The future of the Hinwil team has been strengthened by the announcement of the extension of the Alfa Romeo merger until 2021, with the Italian brand and Sauber entering into a relationship that includes the development of Alfa’s road vehicles.

Vasseur said the partnership with Alfa Romeo goes well beyond the sponsorship package that goes with it.

“It is crucial for us,” he added. “I don’t want to talk about the financial aspect, but it sure is part of it, but more of the motivation that you can add to the team that you can afford the recruiting for the company’s development.

“The fact that Alfa Romeo, the first world champion, wants to extend the contract with us and develop the partnership further is a nice reward, but not just a reward, but a next step for us.

“We work a lot together now on the automotive side and I think it’s a good partnership for the company.”