After the teams, the engine manufacturers will again be subject to a ceiling budget from next year, as part of the development of the 2026 power unit (see our article).
The controversies have not been lacking this year on the capped budgets of the teams: with rising inflation, the top teams wanted to see the ceiling increased.
On the other hand, it should be remembered that in the event of a significant overrun of the ceiling (beyond 5%), sanctions going as far as the withdrawal of points or exclusion from the championship are provided for.
This development is not to Helmut Marko’s taste in Milton Keynes. As he told Motorsport-total, the head of Red Bull fears that F1 will become an accounting world championship.
“The finance department has grown considerably. »
“In the past, the technicians only had to put in the amount they needed, and that was outside the business plan, you had to somehow coordinate that with Red Bull in Salzburg. »
“Today, it is cooperation with financiers that determines developments, and also whether or not these developments are massive. »
“But the financier must not say, from now on there will be no further developments. We, within the management of the team, we look at the situation and we say that we still need an evolution. So you have to save money elsewhere. »
“It’s a process where the FIA learns, where we learn. But I hope it doesn’t degenerate into an accounting championship. »
Marko confirms that staff from the Red Bull Racing racing team have been transferred to Red Bull Technology (which is not subject to budget caps for most of its activities). Charge to the FIA to control the legality of the new occupations of the men and women of Milton Keynes…
“We have reduced staff at Red Bull Racing, but we still have Red Bull Technology. People will then be moved on and given other tasks. »
“We have the hypercar, we are in the America’s Cup. There are certain projects where we place personnel that you don’t want to lose. »
“We founded ‘Red Bull Powertrains’ last year. The Mercedes engine plant is probably 20 or 30 years old. Ferrari too. You need to find adjustments within the capped budgets. »
Remember, however, that investments are among the exceptions to the capped budgets… Similarly, the construction of a new factory in Silverstone for Aston Martin F1 does not fall within the team’s capped budget.
Human resources difficult to manage
Will the arrival of the Volkswagen group as reinforcements not soon allow Red Bull to save personnel? Helmut Marko discusses it.
“There are currently 300 employees [chez Red Bull Powertrains]. If a new manufacturer arrives, you can cooperate. They could use the facilities we have which is another positive. »
“If a new manufacturer arrives, he will immediately have a new engine factory with six test beds in working order. The best of the best. »
Due (in part) to capped budgets, Red Bull has already had to mourn the departure of several staff members. Including some pundits like Dan Fallows, the former head of aerodynamics, who left for Aston Martin F1…
“We have a solid team, we have little fluctuation. Sometimes someone goes, but it was nothing major in our aero department. »
“It was possible because we have a strong and passionate group – and a good financier who regulates this with the budget cap. »
Red Bull affected by shortages?
What feeds inflation and further complicates the task of Red Bull, Marko specifies, in particular to build the new engine factory, is the shortage of certain raw materials…
“If we are granted X amount, we cannot currently use it to build anything; because we cannot obtain the necessary raw materials… There are shortages on the world market. »
“Our supplier AVL cannot deliver ad hoc because steel is scarce. Construction companies are hard to find. This must be taken into account in such an overall package. »
“We were lucky to have completed most of the building work before the war started. We had ordered from AVL before. This means that the steel shortage hasn’t affected us as much anymore. »
Did you miss our previous article...
https://formulaone.news/aston-martin/f1-22-best-supercars-to-drive
