Alpine warns F1 against ‘baking in’ a top team advantage, says the cost cap inhibits small teams’ basic infrastructural changes

The Alpine boss has addressed cost cap issues, along with the FIA potentially favoring top teams

Otmar Szafnauer via Car and Driver

The introduction of the cost cap in Formula 1 has indeed been aimed at creating a more level playing field and promoting sustainability within the sport. The cost cap, implemented starting from the 2021 season, limits how much teams can spend on their operations, including development, manufacturing, and running their cars.

One of the key objectives of the cost cap is to reduce the financial disparity between the traditional top teams and the smaller teams, allowing the latter to be more competitive. By imposing a limit on spending, it is expected to encourage teams to operate within a more sustainable budget and prevent excessive resource disparities.

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has provided his view on urging F1 against “baking in an inequity” of infrastructure compared to teams such as Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Speaking to the media, he said, “We just need to get the FIA to allow a certain amount of infrastructure that’s required by all the teams to be competitive or have the playing field be even not counting for the cost [cap].”

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He added, “Because otherwise, what you do is you bake in an inequity of infrastructure because we do have a capital expenditure cost cap.”. Szafnauer contends that due to the upcoming engine regulations in 2026, certain projects are essentially obligatory for all teams. He also emphasized how some cost caps must be focused on regulations.

Alpine’s miserable run on track continues

Alpine's dreadful Aus GP via GPFans — Alpine’s dreadful Aus GP via GPFans

The 2023 season has been calamitous for French outfit Alpine thus far. Their best driver, Fernando Alonso, departed for British team Aston Martin at the end of 2022, and his gamble has paid off. His new team is second on the grid, while Alpine are stumbling in fifth, looking for a way to distinguish themselves from their competitors.

Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon have had a tough couple of races together, as things have not gone in their favor on track. The car is hard to drive and has a supreme lack of pace. The pair most notably collided into each other at the Australian Grand Prix, and this has mounted pressure on the pair to perform in the coming weeks. They finished a paltry P8 and P9 at Miami.

? Otmar Szafnauer tiró varios dardos a la escudería Aston Martin el otro día en una entrevista:

? “Aston incorporó a mucha gente de Red Bull y Mercedes, no solo a Dan Fallows y Eric Blandin, de los que todo el mundo habla. Adivina quién los eligió en ese entonces” pic.twitter.com/7z95V5MLnK
— Entre Boxes F1 #ItalianGP?? (@EntreBoxesF1) May 20, 2023

Team principal Otmar Szafnauer is also tipped to be replaced by former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto after the team was publicly criticized by their CEO Laurent Rossi in a public interview. The stakes are high, and the French duo must go all guns blazing at Monaco and secure a solid result to hint at some sort of stability down at the French team.

The French ship is sinking, and the current team down at Alpine must do whatever is in their power to rectify this instability before it’s too late. The team undergoes a major restructuring resulting from Rossi’s frustration.

Alpine warns F1 against ‘baking in’ a top team advantage, says the cost cap inhibits small teams’ basic infrastructural changes

Alpine’s miserable run on track continues

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