Are Ferrari Right to Challenge the FIA?

Formula One fans, drivers, and teams face some of the most uncertain weeks the sport has ever seen, and it’s not a tense battle for the Championship as in previous years.

Instead, it is yet another political stand off as the FIA and FOTA come to loggerheads of the controversial budget cap.

Much has been made of the proposed budget cap of £40 million, which is due to start next season, but where does the new proposal leave the sport?  Hanging by a thread, some would have you think, and ready to prosper in the eyes of others.

The budget cap is not as small as it seems, with Driver’s wages, engines, marketing expenses, and any expenditure which is deemed to have no effect on racing performance, £40 million suddenly seems a lot more reasonable, but as Ferrari are quick to point out, they have over 700 staff working towards their cars and performance. 

Say the average wage of one of these employees is £25,000; that would be £17.5 million alone, almost half of the budget.  All of a sudden you see the problems starting.

Many people believe Ferrari and the other big teams threatening to quit the sport are being petty and spoilt, but who can expect them to suddenly cut their costs so drastically in the space of one off-season? 

The smaller teams already in the paddock, and the potential new teams, such as Lola, USF1, iSport and Campos; among others would have no problem working within the budget, and as a result can have far more technical freedom. 

Great news, but then you have Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Red Bull, Toyota and BMW, who are going to seriously struggle to fit into the budget, and as a result may as well not enter the championship.

I think Ferrari are petty at times, but they might just be right this time.

Who wants to see an F1 Championship without them, or any of the other big teams. They made the sport what it is today, the sport we all love, taking them away would ruin the sport, and we would have to start again.