“Have to risk your life”: Salary is an issue that appeals to Formula 1

Vettel finds it strange that Formula 1 wants to cut driver salaries in the midst of a boom. “It's a strange coincidence when teams can earn money from Formula 1 races for the first time and something like a salary limit for drivers appears,” said the four-time world champion about the racing teams' negotiations about the future financial framework.

It is being discussed whether salary expenses for both regular drivers will soon no longer be allowed to exceed $30 million per year. The industry's top stars and their bosses face each other in the controversy. The climate in the paddock is slightly tense when it comes to salary issues ahead of the guest appearance in Canada on Sunday (20.00 p.m.). A limit is “completely wrong,” said world champion Max Verstappen, who is one of the top earners alongside superstar Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen with a clear edge “At the moment Formula 1 is becoming more and more popular and everyone is earning more and more money,” explained the Red Bull driver, pointing out that the drivers ultimately “put on the show and risk their lives.” A top wage is appropriate for this. “At the moment Formula 1 is becoming more and more popular and everyone is making more and more money.” Max Verstappen The team leaders, however, argue with the growing cost pressure and the proportionality factor. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff referred to the budget limit of $140 million, which is becoming more and more of a problem for the top teams this year due to high inflation. Driver salaries currently do not fall under the spending limit. However, an additional pay slip of up to 50 million would be “inappropriate” if the entire racing operation and up to 1.000 employees had to be financed with 140 million, said Wolff. Bottas and Hamilton are against it too The budget limit in Formula 1 has been in effect since last year and is intended to ensure more equal opportunities between the teams. Some people argue that driver salaries should also be covered by this regulation, because otherwise the logic of the cap and the competition between engineers would be undermined. This means that the richest teams can always employ the best pilots.

Lewis Hamilton also doesn't believe in an upper limit. © APA/afp / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA

The drivers, however, point to the negative consequences of a salary limit for the junior series. Investors there often speculate on making money from their protégés' future contracts in Formula 1. “If this is limited, then the already big risk for a financier will become even greater,” warned Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas.

“I won’t be here much longer, but I think of the young generation and don’t think they should be slowed down,” said record world champion Hamilton. After all, Formula 1 has now tripled its sales to $14 billion. Günther Steiner open As a possible way out of the dilemma, the bosses want to borrow from US sports. In most leagues, a salary limit for each team has been established for a long time. For top stars, the direct salary usually makes up the smaller part of the income, with the larger chunk coming from personal sponsors and marketing shares. “We have to look at it and learn from it, even if we don’t have to copy it,” said South Tyrolean Haas team boss Günther Steiner. “We have to look at it and learn from it, even if we don’t have to copy it.” Günther Steiner on the model in US sports Wolff wants to use diplomatic skill to soften the fronts. “To make it really sustainable, all top earners should be included,” said the Austrian and made it clear: “That means not only the drivers, but also the team bosses and managers should be included in the budget limit.”

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“Have to risk your life”: Salary is an issue that appeals to Formula 1

Sebastian Vettel couldn't resist the biting mockery. The other Formula 1 drivers also react irritably to the topic of salary limits.

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