Ferrari and Red Bull warned they will only be racing against themselves in a future F1

Formula 1

Ferrari and Red Bull warned they will only be racing against themselves in a future F1

The two teams have been urged to drop their budget cap stance

Ian Parkes

Sunday 12 April 2020 09:00

Ferrari and Red Bull have been warned they will only be racing against themselves in Formula 1 in the future if they continue to put self-interest ahead of the greater good of the sport.

A dramatic reduction to the budget cap, that is due to be introduced next year, is currently under discussion, with an initial agreement of $175million dropped to $150million in light of the current global crisis.

The likes of McLaren CEO Zak Brown, however, is eager for that figure to be reduced further, potentially as low as $100million, although he is willing to accept a compromise of $125million.

Brown has made clear, though, that two teams, in particular, are currently not playing ball.

“Without 10 teams, or at least nine teams, you don’t really have Formula 1,” Brown said in a Sky Sports vodcast.

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“It’s really a couple of teams that need to be very careful, because I think they’re kind of playing with fire, so to speak.

“It takes a full grid to have a sport, so if they continue to have the sport be unsustainable and a couple of teams lose interest or financially are not able to participate any more, then they’re going to be racing against themselves, and that's not going to work."

Pressed on the two teams he was referring to, he refused to divulge names, although made clear as to which when he said: "Daimler (Mercedes parent company) has been doing an excellent job recognising the situation that we’re in, so you can deduct who the other two teams are”.

Brown has suggested the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull are akin to heavyweight boxers only wanting to go up against middleweights who "should be prepared to fight everyone on more equal terms".

“It’s a huge marketing platform for those two teams so I understand why they want to keep the fiscal balance where it is now," added Brown.

“But in sport, you kind of want to think everyone can fight fairly and may the best team win.

"If you ask the fans, they want to see races like Brazil and Germany (in 2019), and you shouldn't have to have torrential downpours to create a level of excitement."