F1: Budget cap hardest on Alfa Romeo

(GMM) Formula 1’s budget cap is harder on Swiss-based Alfa Romeo.

That is the view of the Sauber-run team’s technical boss Jan Monchaux (shown above), who told motorsport-magazin.com: “Have you ever been to a restaurant in Switzerland?

“The problem is that the budget cap does not currently compensate for the differences in the cost of living between countries.”

Indeed, the vast bulk of the F1 teams are based in the UK, with Ferrari and Alpha Tauri operating out of Italy.

Valtteri Bottas. Photo courtesy of the Alfa Romeo F1 team

Sauber, on the other hand, have operated from the Zurich Oberland region since its founding by Peter Sauber in the early 90s.

“We all have $140 million available,” Monchaux said.

“But compared to a team that might be based in England or Italy with the same number of staff, we have a relatively big payroll problem.

“In the end, that eats up 20 to 30 percent and a lot of potential that would otherwise be in the car. That’s the price of being at home here.”