FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has proposed abolishing Formula 1's budget cap, a measure introduced in 2021 under his predecessor Jean Todt, arguing it creates unnecessary complications.
Following his recent suggestion of reviving V10 engines with sustainable fuel, Ben Sulayem has now turned his attention to the financial restrictions that have shaped F1's recent competitive landscape.
"I'm looking at the cost cap and it's just giving the FIA a headache," he told AP News. "So what's the point of it? I don't see the point. I really don't."
The budget cap, which excludes certain significant expenditures, started at $145 million in 2021 and has since been adjusted to an effective limit of approximately $135-140 million for the 2025 season.
Ben Sulayem, whose presidential term concludes later this year, also addressed driver conduct, indicating openness to revising the code but maintaining penalties for swearing, according to the Associated Press.
In Miami, GPDA co-director George Russell expressed doubts about Ben Sulayem's social media claim of relaxing the swearing crackdown.
"Obviously we want to see these things put into action rather than saying 'we're considering things'," the Mercedes driver said. "You know, we all consider a lot of things. So those words don't mean anything until the change has been made."
