Alfa Romeo: Cost cap benefit will be felt in 2023 and 2024

The cap will be introduced in 2021 at $145 million, before falling to £140 million in 2022 and $135 million in 2023, with key exceptions including driver salaries and marketing expenses.

The move is aimed at reducing the cost of running a team in F1 in light of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also levelling the playing field between the richer teams and those with fewer resources.

Asked if the smaller teams will feel a benefit from the implementation of a cost cap, Zehnder told Auto Motor und Sport: “Yes, but not for 2022. We are very efficient. If I look at and compare the employee list of all teams, then we have always had very few employees on the racetrack.

“However, the benefit will only be felt in 2023 and 2024.

“The big teams won’t fire their 300 to 400 people overnight. They will use the transition phase to develop the new cars for 2022 with more resources and personnel.

“The rich teams have always had an advantage when the regulations were changed.

“With this processes, however, it can be that the large teams will find it more difficult in the adjustment phase than the teams that do not have to change anything.”