After eight years of utter domination, Mercedes is in their worst era as a team. The Brackley-based outfit failed miserably to develop a car based on the 2022 regulations. However, as Mercedes is suffering the consequences, the process to rectify these errors is also painstaking. More than that, it’s restrictive! No matter how many resources Mercedes has, to end the winless drought of Lewis Hamilton, they can only use a certain amount thanks to the budget cap. This is exactly why billionaire Toto Wolff is cribbing about every penny the team has to spend.

Along with Mercedes, Hamilton is also suffering through the worst period of his F1 career. The Brit is winless for over a year after securing at least one in his first 15 years in the sport. This scenario has also put his future with the Silver Arrows in doubt. This is exactly why Mercedes needs massive changes to the car, but their hands are tied. Wolff explained this helpless scenario during his conversation with Motorsport-Total.

“I think that the cost ceiling brings with it so many restrictions,” says Wolff. “This process is so difficult and painful. People who are just supposed to be creative and have carte blanche can’t do that because someone is telling them if it’s doable within the cost cap or not, and that’s why it’s so important that everyone sticks to the cost cap. If you exceed that, every ten thousand counts.”

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The difficulty of having to switch up the processes and worry about every penny spent is a big transition for most teams, especially the financially powerful teams.

However, despite the problems caused by the budget cap, the Austrian still supports this reform.

 Toto Wolff still advocates for the budget cap

Many teams and bosses have voiced their dissatisfaction with the ever-reducing budget cap. However, the Austrian billionaire isn’t among them even though he threatened to breach the rules. He believes the budget cap is a necessary evil despite its shortcomings.

“Our finance department has grown from 15 to 45 employees, that’s quite a size. But again: I think that the cost cap was necessary in Formula 1, and if you ask me: cost cap yes or no, then I’ll take the cost cap every single day of the week! It’s important to make the sport sustainable,” said Wolff.

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The prime objective behind introducing the budget cap hasn’t been met yet. However, all laws take time to showcase their desired effect and we will surely see a closer field in the coming future.