Sergio Perez believes the current cost cap is “unfair” to smaller teams as the Formula 1 Commission sits to vote on potential rule tweak for 2027.
The spending restrictions on teams, introduced in 2021, have never quite garnered wholesale approval from everyone in the paddock.
The FIA and FOM decided to bring the teams at the back of the field closer to the front-runners in terms of spending and developmental parity while introducing the cost cap.
That said, Perez believes a flat-rate ($215 million for 2026) is almost counterproductive to what the sport set out to achieve in the first place.
The Mexican racing driver drew on his experience driving for Red Bull compared to his stint with Cadillac this season.
“We are obviously a new team and a small team,” he said.
“I think the cost cap these days is a lot more unfair for smaller teams because when I was at Red Bull, for example, we used to bring upgrades pretty much every weekend.
“You never heard anything about the cost cap. It was all about performance, bringing, and throwing everything you could.”
Sergio Perez blames F1 cost cap for the “massive gaps” on the grid
Williams boss James Vowles echoes Perez’s sentiments, as the Briton has proposed a sliding-scale cost cap to be introduced for the 2027 season onwards.
This is to be put to a vote before the F1 Commission next month, with Vowles requiring six votes (including his) to get the agenda passed.
It would appear that Perez and Cadillac would be behind this, as the former Red Bull driver believes the cost cap in its current state is a major factor in the larger performance delta between the field.
“When you are in smaller teams, because they’re not as efficient and they don’t have their methods as clear, you end up overspending so much more money,” he added.
“So actually, the cost cap, instead of making it closer between teams, creates these massive gaps that we currently have on the grid.”
The General Motors-backed project is yet to score its first F1 Championship points as it sits plumb last in 11th.
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