The controversial president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, could be set to abandon Formula 1’s cost cap regulations in what could prove to be a crushing blow to McLaren just as they get on top of the sport.
The sport introduced the financial rules in 2021 to promote healthy balances for teams, as well as to create a more level playing field for the likes of Williams, Haas and Sauber against the big budget teams.
However, the Associated Press report the FIA supremo believes the system is causing an excessive amount of “headaches” and isn’t worth the time, despite the visible results as F1 enjoys its closest ever field.
“I’m looking at the cost cap and it’s just giving the FIA a headache,” Ben Sulayem said, as per the AP. “So what’s the point of it? I don’t see the point. I really don’t.”
The potential change comes in light of Red Bull’s claims that McLaren are using water to illegally cool their tyres, contributing to their exceptional management in high thermal degradation races.
However, Pirelli insists this is impossible without being easily detectable and post-race checks are yet to discover anything unusual MCL39, as Zak Brown challenges Christian Horner to put his money where his mouth is by lodging an official protest.
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This is also something the 63-year-old from the United Arab Emirates, who has been in the post since 2022, welcomes too – advocating failed protests should be deducted from the financial budget of $140m/£104m to deter Hail Mary attempts.
FIA set to abandon cost cap: How would it hurt McLaren?
Despite their success in the ongoing 2025 campaign, as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri seemed destined to battle it out exclusively for the title, the change could leave McLaren vulnerable.
The team lacks the ultimate pool of resources Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull can draw upon to fund their own projects, meaning they would be disadvantaged when it comes to infrastructure and salaries offered to key engineers and personnel.
For example, the team almost went bankrupt in 2020 and although they’ve since turned it around, have never showed the ability to spend as much money as the Big Three of the modern era; who are now also joined by Aston Martin in terms of cash at hand.
However, if the FIA elects to retain the restrictions on wind tunnel time and CFD allocations then there is the potential for McLaren to stay on top of the game, something Andrea Stella will be hoping for as the sport heads into the 2026 regulations.
Would the FIA really abandon the cost cap?
Ben Sulayem has made an increasing number of claims in recent months as to how the FIA could potentially revolutionise Formula 1 for the better, such as reintroducing 100% naturally aspirated engines by abandoning the turbo-hybrid, which reappeared in 2014.
Whilst this created optimism from fans, the proposal was ultimately rejected following discussions with teams. For example, Audi, Honda (Aston Martin) and Mercedes were not in favour after investing heavily into the 2026 power unit project.
With FIA elections due in 2025 and Ben Sulayem proving to be a controversial character who is unpopular with the drivers, as well as one who has failed to navigate tensions between the team and the French governing body, he could be playing politics for an upturn in approval.
In order to change the engines, F1 would have required all four manufacturers to vote in favour. If a similar policy is employed to the cost-cap rules, then it’s likely the low budget teams would reject them.
At a minimum, this includes Williams and Haas, whilst Sauber (Audi), Alpine and Cadillac (from 2026) could also vote against plans to hand an advantage to the big bucks players on the grid.
