The FIA has confirmed that Red Bull managed to exploit a ‘weakness’ in the current cost cap system by replacing Max Verstappen‘s engine during the race weekend in São Paulo. The gamble, carried out after the Dutchman was eliminated in Q1, paid off for the team. From the pit lane, Verstappen – with a completely new power unit – made an impressive comeback. The engine swap led to questions from McLaren.
Team boss Andrea Stella wondered after the Grand Prix whether Red Bull gained a financial advantage within the budget cap with an engine swap. Was it really a reliability issue in this case, and does such a swap fall under the strict budget cap? According to the FIA, it is precisely these kinds of situations that expose the vulnerability of the regulations. Director Nikolas Tombazis remained non-committal and emphasized that the organization will address this loophole in the future.
Grey Area
“What we don’t like to get involved in is a situation where we have to debate whether the telemetry indicates a possible reliability problem or not during an engine swap,” the FIA chief explained during a press conference in Las Vegas. “We don’t feel we have the expertise to debate with them whether it’s really a reliability or a strategic intervention. In some cases, it’s clear, but as soon as you get into that grey area, it becomes difficult.”
According to Tombazis, this loophole is a structural problem: “This is a weakness in the current regulations: the combination of financial, technical, and sporting aspects. That’s why we adopt this approach and accept changes without debating the impact on the cost cap.” The FIA is now working on a solution. The change will be integrated into the completely revised regulations that will come into effect in 2026, where not only the teams but also the engine manufacturers will fall under a strict budget cap. Tombazis emphasized that the rules will be made watertight: “It’s an issue that will be resolved next year, with the cost cap for both the engine manufacturers and the teams.”
