FIA introduces strict rules to prevent ‘tricks’ within the cost cap regulations

The FIA is greatly tightening the rules for Formula 1 teams starting in 2027. The aim is to prevent teams from gaining an unfair advantage through separate projects within their organizations that exceed the cost cap. The new measures could even restrict where employees are allowed to work. The cost cap limits team spending on Formula 1 operations, aiming to stop richer teams from investing unlimited funds.

However, enforcing this becomes tricky when organizations have separate departments working on unrelated technologies like Red Bull's 'Advanced Technologies' or Aston Martin's 'Performance Technologies'. These could potentially benefit the racing department. An employee working on such a project could keep their associated costs outside the cap, even though the team benefits.

The FIA has previously tried to prevent such arrangements, requiring technical expertise transferred to F1 from other departments to be counted towards the cap and salaries of employees on F1 activities to be within the limit. From 2027, the federation will require a complete separation between the F1 department and other projects. This means different offices, restricted access zones with electronic entry controls, separate IT systems, and no shared spaces where work can be done.

An employee moving between departments will face strict conditions. They must not access restricted IT systems and must commit to working exclusively on F1-related matters for at least 12 months. Moving staff between departments during the season to free up cap space is also not allowed. The FIA wants to stop an organization from researching outside the cap and then using those results to make their Formula 1 car faster.