McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown believes teams should be given more technical freedom as part of F1’s budget cap regime.
F1’s long-awaited cost cap was introduced in 2021 with the aim of containing costs and leveling the sport. The team last year worked according to a $145 million budget that covers design, development and operating costs for the season, excluding a range of items from the cost cap, such as engines and driver salaries.
The 2022 mandatory threshold was initially capped at $140 million, but was adjusted mid-season due to global inflationary pressures.
The cost limit for 2023 will drop to $135 million, but with 24 races planned, that compensation will be $138.6 million.
McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown argues that F1’s now well-established cost cap system should lead to more permissive technical regulations.
“If there is a cost cap, there really should be some technical freedom within the cost cap,” argues Zak Brown.
“Then you’ll see more innovation and risk-taking and the cars will look even more different.”
“If you have a cap, you kind of have two guidelines: ‘everything should look like that’ and ‘you can’t use more than that’.”
“Stop spending money and do what you want. I think there will be more innovation and everyone can learn from each other.”
“Like when Brawn GP made the double diffuser in 2009. They seemed to have had a great start, but by the end of the year they were balanced and I think they got it. That’s the sport. It’s a fascinating part of
Red Bull’s recent cost cap controversy has proven that managing an F1 team’s budget can be a difficult balancing act.
McLaren has stayed within F1’s financial boundaries for 2021, but Brown admitted it was a “nerve-wracking” process for the team.
“I want to be as close to the cap as possible, so it drives me crazy,” explained Zak Brown.
“If there’s an accident or something goes wrong, that might be the end of it, but we did a dry run in 2020.”
“Our CFO had a lot of opportunities to explain and ask questions, and we did a lot. (F1’s head of financial regulation, Lodi) Federico and the FIA have done a great job.”
“There was clarity and when in doubt, he asked questions.”
