Caterham chief Cyril Abiteboul believes Formula 1 risks turning in to a two-tier sport because of the new regulation changes for 2014.
Whilst it was thought the changes would create more of a level-playing field, Abiteboul reckons the leading pack will move further away from the chasing midfield because they can’t afford to lose and will therefore spend far more than they currently are to ensure they win.
“I think it is a small opportunity for us in that it is an opportunity to join the midfield – but I believe that we will only join the midfield,” he told Autosport.
“There is a reset but the midfield will be quite far away from the leading teams because I see the amount of resources that some teams are capable of putting into this.”
With 2015 in effect having four manufacturers in Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren, he fears things will only get worse for the smaller outfits.
“The other thing is that in 2015, you will have four players – Ferrari, Red Bull with Renault, Mercedes and [McLaren with] Honda – that have an obligation to be successful.
“They need to justify the level of spending that is currently being put into it – and that obligation to win is going to create a massive arms race between them.
“That is a big danger for Formula 1 – that it will be those four and the rest of us behind.”
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