Günther Steiner warns against further softening or overturning the cost limit in Formula 1 – It has a decisive impact on good racing
The budget cap introduced in 2021 has as much influence on the high sporting entertainment value of Formula 1 2022 as the technical regulations, finds Haas team boss Günther Steiner.
The cost limit, which was recently raised to 145.6 million US dollars in a compromise, is not without controversy in the paddock due to rampant inflation. Several top teams want to raise the limit significantly, smaller teams emphasise that the spending limit works.
Günther Steiner also sees it that way. While the technical regulations have made it easier to lag behind other cars, the cost limit has also played a big part in the sometimes unpredictable Formula 1 2022, the South Tyrolean believes.
“We see a lot of battles being fought on the track at the moment,” he says. “We have really strong racing. And that’s because of the budget cap. We’ve put in place a successful rule and we should stick to that. “
Stick to the principle
Steiner voted in favour of the four-million compromise, but warns against moving away from the limit again. The formula would then “take a wrong turn”. In the days of an unregulated market economy, Formula One’s budgets have been $300 million to $400 million per season.
“It should not be our intention to go back to the ‘good old days’ when just more and more money won the title. I think for FOM [Formula One Management] races like Silverstone were fantastic and for the spectators as well. “
“It makes you wonder: why is that? And I think the cost barrier plays a role there. That’s why I think we should protect the budget cap as much as possible and not put an extra burden on the teams. “
One of the effects of capped costs is that the room for development is limited. This means that a team like Haas, which is still running the original version of its car, can still keep up. According to Steiner, however, the general rules, whose philosophy is more restrictions, have also helped.
“It’s not only the cost limit, but also the technical regulations. It’s certainly not as easy as in the past. The upgrades that have been brought are not as big as a few years ago. It has become much more difficult to find performance within these regulations. So I have to say they are pretty good. “
