Amid calls from Purple Bull for a rethink about F1’s price cap rules within the wake of the massive crash harm payments it has confronted within the final two races, Ferrari staff principal Mattia Binotto has proposed a radical concept.
With Ferrari’s personal Charles Leclerc having been taken out by Lance Stroll at the first corner of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Binotto mentioned the scenario wanted taking a look at.
And whereas he doesn’t consider an additional price cap allowance for repairs is the proper manner ahead, he thinks that groups of drivers who’ve been discovered totally at fault in accidents might be compelled to pay for harm they’ve precipitated to rivals.
“I believe there’s worth for discussions within the close to future with the opposite staff principals, FIA and F1,” mentioned Binotto.
“Clearly in case you’re not responsible, having such harm within the finances cap is one thing which is much more of a consequence now.
“Ought to we add exemptions? I am unsure that’s the answer. I believe it might be very tough to be policed.
“However I believe that what we could take into account is that if a driver is defective, the staff of the motive force ought to pay a minimum of to the opposite groups for the damages and repairs. That can make the drivers extra accountable.”
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, collides with Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing RB16B, firstly
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Binotto’s feedback come within the wake of a recent headache for the Purple Bull staff because it faces costly crash repairs for the second race operating.
Only a fortnight on from the $1.8 million invoice that Purple Bull confronted from Max Verstappen’s high-speed British Grand Prix crash with Lewis Hamilton, it endured one other bruising encounter on the Hungaroring.
An out-of-control Valtteri Bottas triggered a primary nook pile-up in Hungary which left Purple Bull duo Verstappen and Sergio Perez with main harm.
Whereas Verstappen was in a position to proceed and ultimately completed within the factors, Perez floor to a halt shortly afterwards and the staff fears his engine is a write-off.
Purple Bull staff boss Christian Horner thinks it unfair that his outfit now faces one other main finances headache to pay for the harm in a marketing campaign the place it’s already proper on the restrict of the $145 million finances cap.
He needs the FIA to look into the matter and attempt to discover a manner for groups to not be financially penalised when accidents should not their fault.
“It’s brutal beneath the associated fee cap,” mentioned Horner. “I believe it re-affirms that when you might have an incident that is not your fault, that we’re paying a major value for that and that is one thing that is not budgeted for.
“It’s one thing that I believe does must be checked out in higher element by the FIA.”
Requested the place the cash should come from to pay for the current accidents, with Purple Bull already having needed to make redundancies final winter to make sure it stayed inside the finances cap, Horner mentioned sacrifices must be made.
“Clearly you have to take a look at what’s inside the cap,” he mentioned. “It is spare components and it is the engines as effectively, which is especially regarding. I believe we have to revisit this with the FIA as a result of finally is one thing that may have an effect on all groups, not simply Purple Bull.”