Potential bad news for Red Bull and Ferrari customers as F1 set to introduce a new condition in the regulations: Reports
A new rule in the upcoming regulations could bring bad news for Red Bull and Ferrari customers. The FIA, the body that regulates Motorsports all around the world including F1, could bring a rule that would require all the customer teams, such as Haas and RB, to make components by themselves — but it comes with a catch.
F1 is all set to introduce a new set of regulations in 2026 to make the sport more sustainable, competitive and safer. The new regulations will see the cars being lighter, more aerodynamically advanced, and have stronger structures.
With the overall regulations to be applicable for all teams, the FIA could bring a new rule for certain teams if it gets the necessary majority from all the related F1 teams.
Under the proposed new regulation, customer teams that finish P5 or higher in the Constructors' Championship will have to build everything by themselves — including the transferable components.
However, the teams will be given a three-year lead by the regulations to build their factory and gather more personnel. According to experts, their success will be penalized.
Customer teams that can directly be affected are Haas and RB, who take numerous components from Ferrari and Red Bull, respectively. However, Aston Martin, Alpine, McLaren and Williams could also feel the effects after some years.
The aforementioned teams, such as Haas and RB, are unhappy about the proposed regulation since they have closer ties to the primary teams — Ferrari and Red Bull.
The RB, in particular, has deep synergies with its sister team, Red Bull, and from 2026, it is expected that the engine, transmission, suspension, hydraulics and steering will all come from a single source.
Haas F1 team boss Ayao Komatsu's response to the proposed regulation
Haas F1 team principal Ayao Komatsu was far from happy upon learning about the proposed new regulation. The Japanese boss slammed the proposal and said it would "kill" smaller teams.
"It would be a killer for the small teams," Komatsu told the media. "If Formula 1 wants as many teams as possible to be competitive, then it will reject this rule. What better thing could happen to the sport than David winning against Goliath?" (translated from German)
"What fan cares whether the gearbox or the suspension comes from Ferrari or from us? We are credited with a nominal equivalent value in the budget cap for the components we buy. It is so high that we have no advantage."
The Komatsu-led team is currently P7 in the Constructors' Championship with 46 points, ahead of P8-placed RB with 44 points. They are in contention for the P6 position in the Championship against Alpine (P6 with 49 points).