F1 News: Guenther Steiner's Unique Idea To Raise Spending Limit On Team Infrastructure Offers Hope To Small Teams
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner suggested that instead of raising the limit on team infrastructure spending for all teams, overspending can be kept under check on a case-by-case basis where each case is put across the table before the other teams.
Aside from the budget cap, Formula 1 also has CapEx, which includes expenditure incurred on infrastructure upgrades by each team. Expenses incurred directly on the upgrading of their F1 car are not included in this bracket.
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As of now, the CapEx limit is set to $36 million across a four-year period. However, Williams team principal James Vowles has been trying his best to have the limit raised to improve the team's infrastructure and get it at par with the infrastructure utilised by other teams.
After joining Williams early this year, Vowles revealed how the infrastructure and staff needed a major overhaul to match the standards that exist today. However, the CapEx limit has been coming in the way of development, thus making it difficult for small teams like Williams to catch up with the top teams that already possess top-level tools and infrastructure.
To address this unusual problem, Steiner suggests that a blanket increase of the CapEx limit should not be allowed. Instead, a system should be put in place where a team reaches the spending limit and then puts forward its plans and reasons for wanting an increase in the spending limit before the fellow teams on a case-by-case basis.
Stating his idea to Motorsport-Magazin.com, Steiner said:
“We have a CapEx limit now. Before anything is changed, someone has to go here and say: ‘I’m over it now’ and ask if it can be increased. And not just ask for the impossible.
Then everyone comes here and can do it.
We have a certain amount of money now. Spend that once as fast as you can and then report back how much more you need. That’s much better than just raising the limit.
Spend 36 million, see how far you get, and then explain to people what else you’re going to do. That’s how I would do it.”
In addition, the Haas boss also believes that if a blanket increase in the CapEx limit were to be introduced, this would only allow the top teams to further strengthen their infrastructure, while teams at the back of the grid focussed on meeting the basic infrastructural requirements. He added:
“Then it’s [CapEx limit] higher and nobody can spend it. Except the top teams.
They come then and have a huge advantage.”
