Haas: Budget cap will even playing field in 2021, not rule changes

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has argued that a budget cap would be the best way to even up the playing field between the teams in 2021, more so than regulation changes.

2021 is the year when the next big change in all regulations will take place. New F1 owners Liberty Media have made it clear that their intentions are to make engines less complicated and therefore cheaper, and for them to produce better sound as well. 

Talks of a budget cap were also started earlier this year, which was predictably shot down quickly by the top teams. A team like Mercedes operates on a budget that's four times as high than a team like Force India, which makes it next to impossible for the latter to compete with the Silver Arrows. 

The budget cap was set at $150 million, which is less than half of the top three teams' current budget.

“The gap can just be bridged with a budget cap," Steiner told Crash.net.

“Whatever we design, that will not bridge the gap.

"Whatever design you propose, people with more resources and more money can just do more work, and more is better in the end.

"It will not bring the field together."

Speaking on Haas's performance this season, Steiner is very positive about the progress the American team is making.

“Our development is going well.

“Maybe some of the other teams have got even better development, but I don’t know that.

"The scope of work is the same – to make the best car possible with the regulations you’re given."