If F1 Fails The First "critical Test" Of The Budget Cap Rules, It's "game Over".

Formula 1 will face “huge” implications if it fails to implement the budget cap, Ferrari said, with the paddock awaiting a decision on whether teams met the spending cap last year.

The FIA will issue a certificate of compliance tomorrow to ensure teams comply with the new financial guidelines introduced for the 2021 F1 season. Last week, two groups were reported to have broken the law.

Ferrari and F1’s other leading teams have had to cut costs and even lay off some staff to meet a $145 million payment owed from last season. Any team that overspent last year and this year and the seasons to come could have had the performance advantage.

“It’s a very important challenge for the cost ceiling,” said Ferrari’s racing director Laurent Mekis. “And, like we said, if we don’t pass that test, it’s probably game over, because the implications are huge.”

The FIA has the power to fine teams, reduce their costs in future seasons and even confiscate points as a penalty. Mekies said that before any penalties are applied, the critical groups have a similar understanding of how the rules will be implemented.

“Should we talk about penalties now? Probably not. I know it’s probably something the folks at Grandstand want to see and we respect that. But actually we are very early in the process.

“Perhaps the more key aspect of it is, is there a breach? Do we agree on the part of the violation and as a result ensure that everyone is obeying the law?

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“So I think the most important thing now is for the FIA to fully implement the rules as they are written now. And then after the penalties, it’s another matter.

“There’s no doubt Ferrari feel the rules need to be enforced,” Mekis said. “At least for us there is no question what the interpretation is because it’s an ongoing conversation with the FIA. And I think that’s how the process is meant to be.

“After that, of course, we’re talking now, you have the last check we’ve all been waiting for. But in reality, we see very little room for surprises in the way we have been constantly discussing with them over the past two years.

If a group has more than 7 million dollars, up to 5% of the capital, it can be considered guilty of “minor violation”. Spending this much can make a big difference in terms of car performance, said Maki.

If you think about the level of limitations [been] It’s loaded on big teams, then you realize how much lap time it will be if you don’t force them too hard. We’re very limited and any million, any leeway they allow in the budget cap translates into a few tenths of a second on the car.

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