F1: The genius of the F1 regulations to promote parity

–by Mark Cipolloni–

While you may read articles written by the uninformed, or jealous, about how lopsided Formula 1 is right, make no mistake about it, that is because of Max Verstappen’s superior driving ability.

Take Verstappen out of F1 and all of a sudden, the entire picture changes.

Sergio Perez would barely lead the championship ahead of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

And it is about to get tighter.

F1 has two aspects of its regulations that, over time, will tend to equalize all the teams. American owners Liberty Media pushed through these regulations to help the sport grow.

1. A cost cap that ensure the tops teams cannot outspend the minnows
2. Wind Tunnel and CFD limits that help the minnows and restrict the top teams.

The aerodynamic handicap is now fully operational in Formula 1. The mechanism, which came into force in January 2021, provides for a distribution of resources for computer and wind tunnel aerodynamic analyzes with a length inversely proportional to the constructors’ championship standings.

On January 1, 2023, the hours valid for the first part of the next Formula 1 season were updated.

*includes 10% cost cap penalty, otherwise would be 840

The order is readjusted as of June 26th based on the current F1 Point Standings

*includes 10% cost cap penalty, otherwise would be 840

Liberty Media is doing so much more to grow the sport

Drive to survive on Netflix, the soon-to-be Blockbuster Brad Pitt F1 movie, TV shows, and more, Liberty Media is bringing F1 into the mainstream consciousness of the human race.

At the Miami GP they brought in the wealthiest people in the world, plus top celebrities, to get them interested in becoming involved with F1. This happens at almost every race now.

And they are doing things behind the scenes that no one hears about.

As an example, in Canada they brought in NFL football Commissioner Roger Goodell to speak to all the F1 team owners on Sunday morning about the NFL model of doing business and how that can apply to help grow F1 even bigger.

The 32 NFL franchises are now each worth an average over $4 billion – much higher than the current F1 teams are worth.  The talk centered on how they can work together like the 32 NFL teams do to grow the sport.

One point he made was that F1 only has 10 teams, while the NFL has 32.  F1 would be better off with more teams as that would increase awareness of F1 worldwide – more drivers, more personalities, more sponsors, more news articles being written.

Perhaps a subtle point Liberty Media was trying to get across to the current team owners who have, until now, resisted expansion of the F1 grid from the current 10 teams.