Formula 1: Guenther Steiner a fan of budget cap, but not engine standardisation

Haas

Steiner a fan of budget cap, but not engine standardisation

Teams should be allowed to spend on what they want.

Martin Macdonald

Tuesday 27 August 2019 17:55

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Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes that engine standardisation would be “difficult” to implement in Formula 1, and that teams should be allowed to spend money at their own discretion if a budget cap is introduced.

As part of Liberty Media’s plans to level the playing field in F1 for the 2021 season, a budget of $175m per team per season has been suggested, as well as providing teams with equal parts.

Steiner is a fan of the former, but not of the latter.

"I'm satisfied with the budget cap, that’s for sure," he told F1i.com

"Standardization is so difficult to apply. I would be brave enough to say that if there’s a budget cap, then you do what you want with your money and it’s a way to make good decisions on how you can save some of it.

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"So, when you invest the money, you can make a difference. But I don't want to be told how we have to make a difference, that should be left to the teams and how good they are at making those choices.

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"I'm a big supporter of the idea that says ‘here’s your budget cap, do whatever you need to do’. If you want to invest in something which doesn't make you go faster, it’s your decision and this would be without imposing anything to anybody.

Steiner reckons the biggest issue with engine standardisation is the relationship the sport must establish with suppliers, as each team has already built these working relationships already, making problems easier to overcome.

"Because it's also difficult for the people regulating the sport to get the right suppliers. If there is an issue with a supplier, you’re risking a lot,” he continued.

“So, do we need all this complication when we have the budget cap? I don't think so."