The FIA has granted all F1 teams an extra allowance with which to enhance the infrastructure of their factories.
The highest groups can spend an additional $6m, the middle-ranking outfits $14m, and the 4 backside groups – specifically AlphaTauri, Williams, Haas and Sauber/Alfa Romeo – can now make investments an additional $20m.
Nevertheless, Bayer, who helped create the associated fee cap and the monetary laws when working for the FIA, says that that further funding will not be accessible to the group.
“I believe the primary query to ask actually is will we do we have now the cash?,” he instructed Autosport when requested concerning the CapEx allowance.
“As a result of we’ve not forecasted any of that cash after we went to fulfill the shareholders for the price range planning. So I’ve to say that I am probably not a giant fan of it, to be trustworthy.
“I used to be, as you realize one of many architects of the associated fee cap, and we got down to stage the enjoying discipline. Now, I perceive that typically we have to make changes, and we did.
“However I believe it is obscure. Since you make a plan, you form of deal with the place you spend the cash. After which a month later, all the pieces’s altering and you are like, ‘I made my plan. These guys perhaps knew one thing I did not know.'”
Whereas Williams already had funding earmarked for CapEx funding, and Sauber is eager to ramp up its Hinwil base forward of Audi’s takeover, Bayer says it is not as easy for AlphaTauri to search out that $20m.
Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT04, Liam Lawson, AlphaTauri AT04
Photograph by: Pink Bull Content material Pool
“For us, it is so much tougher, undoubtedly,” he stated. “And on the identical time, in the event you’re trying on the prime groups, it may not be honest both. As a result of I keep in mind after I noticed the numbers within the preliminary value cap section, I noticed the true budgets of Ferrari and Pink Bull and all of them.
“And actually we did not perceive how they’ll really squeeze all that cash right into a cap. And so they managed to do it. And now issues are altering once more. I am not so comfortable about the entire scenario.”
Bayer additionally referenced the separate wind tunnel allowance which has helped each Aston Martin and McLaren put money into model new amenities.
“I believe the conundrum of it truly is now that the door is open, you must go and spend,” he stated. “As a result of the cap is limiting the spend, it is defining the efficiency.
“When you open the cap, it is a bit just like the wind tunnel. When Lawrence [Stroll] acquired the wind tunnel, all of a sudden new wind tunnels had been popping up. Even supposing earlier than that everyone stated the longer term is CFD! So there you go, we’ll spend extra money.”
Bayer conceded that he is aware of the place AlphaTauri’s Faenza facility could be improved if the group can discover the cash.
“I’ve a want record, at all times,” he stated. “In all probability, prime of my head, I’d go for a really, very good simulator.”