$135 Million Mess Leaves F1 Teams Grasping At Straws to Get Through Exorbitant 2023 Calendar

The F1 organizing committee would not want to read the latest report published by Auto Motor und Sport. Formula 1 and FIA, recently, have advocated human rights and climate protection and made cost efficiency a priority. However, the record 24-race calender, if China is replaced, will be a slap in the face to all of Formula 1’s social concerns.

According to the Auto Motor und Sport and Sauber’s sporting director, the 2023 calendar was a nightmare. There are various aspects to the nightmarish calendar. However, in this piece, we will focus on the increased costs following Formula 1’s boom.

The sport has touched new heights in popularity for sure, all thanks to various external aspects. However, this boom has translated to extreme inflation during race weekends, affecting not only the fans but the teams as well. The yet again reduced cost cap to $135 million has rubbed salt in the team’s wounds.

This debacle has made Sauber’s sporting director, Beat Zehnder speak up. “The calendar could not have been put together much more expensively,” complains Zehnder. (Translated Via Google)

“It’s getting more difficult everywhere. Austin is already fully booked for 2023. We tried to book ten additional rooms in our hotel. No chance. Everything is already blocked,” he added to support his claim.

Read More: FIA Vigorously Defends Handling of Red Bull’s $7M Budget Cap Penalty

Zehnder’s concerns have just scratched the surface of the immensely taxing 2023 calendar. No team will know the whole scope of the calendar nightmare without firsthand experience. Red Bull has already breached the cap. We have a feeling this might turn into a regular occurrence, especially because the cost cap was further reduced and it will stay that way till 2025.

FIA’s decision to lock the cap till 2025 will see more infringements as F1 teams struggle to make ends meet

The cost cap started off at $145 million in 2021, which Red Bull breached, and has reduced by $5 million every season. Heading into 2023, the cap is down to $135 million for 21 races. The teams will get an additional allowance of $1.8 million for each race over 21 and for sprint races. However, that doesn’t solve the problem of the poorly planned calendar.

“These are by far the most expensive cargo flights of the year. We only pay almost a million for freight costs,” claims Zehnder.

The increased airfare and freight tariffs, all included in the budget cap, will be a serious problem that the teams need to tackle.

WATCH THIS STORY: Christian Horner Unhappy with 2022 Budget Cap, Calls for Urgent Attention

Only time will tell if the poorly geographically planned calendar will force teams to go over budget or will the FIA budge and increase the cap.