The possible dangers from the budget cap

[Pingguest]

One big issue overlooked is how the make sure the budget cap is abided. It will mean the FIA needs to do audits through the whole company. That might be easy for smaller teams like Sauber or Williams, but for big integrated companies like Mercedes, Renault, Ferrari and even HAAS, that's a titannic work. It's very costly to make sure that for instance Mercedes is not booking production of parts under their roadcar devision. It also raises question whether machinery for production parts should be part of the cap (because if it has to be, what stops Renault for instance to invest into a new machining tool for its roadcar devision and conveniently use it for F1 too). Audits also means spitting through very sensitive company data, with any significant leaks being potential company-ending consequences. There is also ambiguity around that engine development is excempt from the cap. What about research to bodywork around the PU (because you know, Ferrari just has to know what kind of cooling it needs) which is also directly related to the chassis/aero performance.

That is a big one and I would agree that it would be impossible to police internal company finances to ensure compliance. Even Ferrari and Haas were rumored to be sharing wind tunnel time to get around the rule limits (just to show how abuses *could* occur).

How are the restrictions on wind tunnel testing and on computer fluid dynamics actually being enforced?

[PlatinumZealot]

The cars are already so similar i see no downsides to the budget cap.

[DiogoBrand]

The cars are so similar, yet there was a 4% difference between pole and last at China on Qualifying. The budget cap's main goal is to let a team with a smaller budget like Williams be competitive against a big team like Ferrari, but how is Williams ever gonna close the gap if Ferrari has the same budget they do to improve their car?