The Official F1 2025 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
kambites said:
How does the cost cap work for teams intending to join the grid but which aren't on it yet? Are Audi limited in how much CFD they can do despite not actually being an F1 constructor yet?
Yes because they are on the grid as they own Sauber. They just haven't renamed it to Audi yet.ralphrj said:
kambites said:
How does the cost cap work for teams intending to join the grid but which aren't on it yet? Are Audi limited in how much CFD they can do despite not actually being an F1 constructor yet?
Yes because they are on the grid as they own Sauber. They just haven't renamed it to Audi yet.
Not that the 2026 aero regs have been finalised even now.
Hustle_ said:
Quite a lot of rumour flying around on social media about Bottas going back to Williams. Would be a good move for both parties in my opinion.
Bottas is long past his sell by date in F1 , and Williams have no money so maybe they will take another pay (sponsor) driver now they have Albon signed up (poor Alex stuck in a Williams for 2 more years).kambites said:
OK how did it work last year then?
Not that the 2026 aero regs have been finalised even now.
I think they only bought them in March this year so potentially they could have invested heavily in CFD prior to that but I'm not sure how valuable that would be so far out from competing.Not that the 2026 aero regs have been finalised even now.
kambites said:
ralphrj said:
kambites said:
How does the cost cap work for teams intending to join the grid but which aren't on it yet? Are Audi limited in how much CFD they can do despite not actually being an F1 constructor yet?
Yes because they are on the grid as they own Sauber. They just haven't renamed it to Audi yet.Not that the 2026 aero regs have been finalised even now.
If you're asking if there's a way that Audi (OEM) could do some sneaky CFD separate from Sauber (F1), then no, not really given that:
1 - The regulations haven't been finalised yet;
2 - They have no F1 experience of their own to draw upon;
3 - There's no mechanism for them to feed anything they did back into the F1 team without them being flagged for breaching the aero development cap.
4 - New manufacturers are bound by the full regulations and cost cap as soon as they have declared their entry, whether they have actually entered at that point or not.
5 - Most OEMs know the square root of F-all about F1, and most of them couldn't manage the most basic F1 tasks on their own.
thegreenhell said:
It doesn't matter what the F1 team is called from one year to the next, they are still bound by the same cost cap and CFD regulations. In this case it makes no difference if they were called Sauber, Alfa Romeo, Stake or Audi over the last few years, it's all the same team.
If you're asking if there's a way that Audi (OEM) could do some sneaky CFD separate from Sauber (F1), then no, not really given that:
1 - The regulations haven't been finalised yet;
2 - They have no F1 experience of their own to draw upon;
3 - There's no mechanism for them to feed anything they did back into the F1 team without them being flagged for breaching the aero development cap.
4 - New manufacturers are bound by the full regulations and cost cap as soon as they have declared their entry, whether they have actually entered at that point or not.
5 - Most OEMs know the square root of F-all about F1, and most of them couldn't manage the most basic F1 tasks on their own.
Audi dominated Le Mans for many years, they have won the race more times than Ferrari. They know how to build race winning prototype powertrains and chassis.If you're asking if there's a way that Audi (OEM) could do some sneaky CFD separate from Sauber (F1), then no, not really given that:
1 - The regulations haven't been finalised yet;
2 - They have no F1 experience of their own to draw upon;
3 - There's no mechanism for them to feed anything they did back into the F1 team without them being flagged for breaching the aero development cap.
4 - New manufacturers are bound by the full regulations and cost cap as soon as they have declared their entry, whether they have actually entered at that point or not.
5 - Most OEMs know the square root of F-all about F1, and most of them couldn't manage the most basic F1 tasks on their own.
There is no reason why they can't win in F1 if they commit to the program properly.
732NM said:
thegreenhell said:
It doesn't matter what the F1 team is called from one year to the next, they are still bound by the same cost cap and CFD regulations. In this case it makes no difference if they were called Sauber, Alfa Romeo, Stake or Audi over the last few years, it's all the same team.
If you're asking if there's a way that Audi (OEM) could do some sneaky CFD separate from Sauber (F1), then no, not really given that:
1 - The regulations haven't been finalised yet;
2 - They have no F1 experience of their own to draw upon;
3 - There's no mechanism for them to feed anything they did back into the F1 team without them being flagged for breaching the aero development cap.
4 - New manufacturers are bound by the full regulations and cost cap as soon as they have declared their entry, whether they have actually entered at that point or not.
5 - Most OEMs know the square root of F-all about F1, and most of them couldn't manage the most basic F1 tasks on their own.
Audi dominated Le Mans for many years, they have won the race more times than Ferrari. They know how to build race winning prototype powertrains and chassis.If you're asking if there's a way that Audi (OEM) could do some sneaky CFD separate from Sauber (F1), then no, not really given that:
1 - The regulations haven't been finalised yet;
2 - They have no F1 experience of their own to draw upon;
3 - There's no mechanism for them to feed anything they did back into the F1 team without them being flagged for breaching the aero development cap.
4 - New manufacturers are bound by the full regulations and cost cap as soon as they have declared their entry, whether they have actually entered at that point or not.
5 - Most OEMs know the square root of F-all about F1, and most of them couldn't manage the most basic F1 tasks on their own.
There is no reason why they can't win in F1 if they commit to the program properly.
732NM said:
Audi dominated Le Mans for many years, they have won the race more times than Ferrari. They know how to build race winning prototype powertrains and chassis.
There is no reason why they can't win in F1 if they commit to the program properly.
Joest ran the team using Dellara built cars.There is no reason why they can't win in F1 if they commit to the program properly.
rallycross said:
Hustle_ said:
Quite a lot of rumour flying around on social media about Bottas going back to Williams. Would be a good move for both parties in my opinion.
Bottas is long past his sell by date in F1 , and Williams have no money so maybe they will take another pay (sponsor) driver now they have Albon signed up (poor Alex stuck in a Williams for 2 more years).Just a shame his F1 career has been entirely uninspiring, despite him generally doing a pretty decent job. He earns his $$$
PRO5T said:
Joest ran the team using Dellara built cars.
Design was carried out at Audi, manufacture of the chassis was done in conjuction with Dallara and other companies including UK composite specialists.It's a similar philosophy as using Sauber for the chassis construction with design of powertrain at Audi and a collaboration of the technical facilities at the various specialist sites, but this project is fully owned and managed by Audi.
Mark-C said:
Surely Audi need to be worrying about building a decent powertrain more than the car at the moment ... is there anything to stop the throwing money at that right now?
The cost cap they signed up to when the FIA accepted them as an engine manufacturer. As a new manufacturer they are allowed to spend 10% more on engine development than the current manufacturers for a couple of years before their engine enters competition, but that is all.732NM said:
Audi dominated Le Mans for many years, they have won the race more times than Ferrari. They know how to build race winning prototype powertrains and chassis.
There is no reason why they can't win in F1 if they commit to the program properly.
Toyota have been pretty handy at Le Mans but their F1 effort ultimately failed. (I appreciate Audi have a very different approach).There is no reason why they can't win in F1 if they commit to the program properly.
vaud said:
Interesting, I'd like to see an American team on the grid. Now, my memory is a bit fuzzy I've done a bit of googling and am I right in saying...Symonds was banned for cheating. He's been working for f1 in recent years. Now set to join andretti?
White-Noise said:
vaud said:
Interesting, I'd like to see an American team on the grid. Now, my memory is a bit fuzzy I've done a bit of googling and am I right in saying...Symonds was banned for cheating. He's been working for f1 in recent years. Now set to join andretti?
Sounds more and more like Bottas to Williams is a done deal, so where does that leave Kimi Antonelli? Would Mercedes really take a chance on a (currently) 17 year old rookie who isn't exactly setting the F2 championship alight? Maybe they will take a risk on him as the car isn't that great and play the long game so he gets a years experience before the 26 regulations?
If that is the case then where does that leave Sainz? I understand he has been offered a multi year contract with Sauber/Audi but is still holding out for a better drive? With Mercedes gone that would only leave Red Bull.
With Sauber getting rid of both drivers it implies that Zhou will be highly unlikely to get a drive.
This is definitely the best silly season in years, I find it more interesting than the actual 2024 championship.
If that is the case then where does that leave Sainz? I understand he has been offered a multi year contract with Sauber/Audi but is still holding out for a better drive? With Mercedes gone that would only leave Red Bull.
With Sauber getting rid of both drivers it implies that Zhou will be highly unlikely to get a drive.
This is definitely the best silly season in years, I find it more interesting than the actual 2024 championship.
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