'Red Bull quits alliance with Ferrari and Mercedes in budgetcap talks'

As a result of the corona crisis, Formula 1 teams run the risk of ending up in major financial problems. In order to accommodate the smaller teams in these difficult times, a further reduction of the budget ceiling for 2021 has been proposed. Last year it was agreed that the limit will be 175 million dollars, now a number of teams are pleading to reduce this amount to as much as 100 million dollars.

It will come as no surprise that any form of further reduction so far has been blocked by the three big teams. Normally the teams have to agree unanimously to come to a decision on this. However, since this is now an emergency situation, a majority is enough to implement new regulations.

So with a majority, six teams are needed to approve a further reduction of the budgets. Since AlphaTauri and Racing Point almost always agree with the parent company and engine supplier, implementing a further budget limit with a majority is still quite difficult.

AlphaTauri can go its own way

But according to sources from Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull is now drawing up its own plan and letting AlphaTauri stand up for their own interests. The Italian team would pursue a budget limit below $130 million and would therefore balance the vote at the end of this month.

Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull Racing and Racing Point are therefore expected to vote against, while McLaren, Renault, Williams and AlphaTauri are in favour of a further extension for 2021. The decision of Haas and Alfa Romeo will therefore be decisive. Previous votes (for the continuation of the GP of Australia, for example) have shown that these teams do not necessarily follow the line of Ferrari.