Sir Frank Williams believes a budget cap would not be correct in F1, but does strongly agree that each team has a responsibility to be as cost-effective as possible. Plans for a spending limit were first suggested by then FIA President Max Mosley, but so far the Paris-based federation has been unable to convince all manufacturers.
This year’s Spanish Grand Prix saw Williams return to winning ways for the first time since 2004. In seasons since, the Grove-based team – second only to Ferrari for the highest number of constructors’ titles – has also been forced to make dramatic cuts.
“In the old days, the price of running in Formula 1 was probably one tenth - or at most 15 percent - of what it is now,” the Team Principal told the official F1 website. “It is very expensive to be in Formula 1. The manufacturers have taken over - correct? So if you wish to participate, you have to find the money.
“A little bit of this and a little bit of that - money that is honest. You have to make a budget that gives you the chance to truly compete and not just participate; and it might happen that you take on a driver who brings along some money. There is no shame in that whatsoever. We are reasonably lean. There are probably more cost-effective teams in the paddock, but we never stop learning.”
Williams also acknowledges that off-track games will always be played.
“To keep a team running is always a struggle,” he begins to sum up. “Finding sponsors, finding funds…for almost every team except probably Ferrari, but they have Marlboro in something that is called subliminal advertising in marketing terms - and even if the FIA say you can’t do it, they can’t prove it.”
Although a strict budget cap is not in place, the Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA) remains active and the majority is now seeking full clarification for future years.
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