Sebastian Vettel highlights downside to cost cap

Sebastian Vettel will leave Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season.

Aston Martin driver, Sebastian Vettel, has conceded that, while the cost cap was designed to stop the big teams overspending, it is also preventing the smaller teams from cutting the deficit.

New technical regulations were brought in at the start of the season, and it covers work done to the chassis, but not to the engines.

Initially, the cap was set at $140 million but, due to the concerning rate of global inflation, that was increased to $145 million part way through the season.

The new rules also saw the return of ground effect aerodynamics, and as the teams came up with different concepts, there was bound to be a big gap between those that got it right, and those who did not.

READ: Aston Martin admit ‘downside’ of replacing Sebastian Vettel with Fernando Alonso

Eventually, this gap was expected to be bridged as the rest of the teams developed their cars, and the ability to follow more closely has also made for better wheel-to-wheel racing in the meantime.

Aston Martin are ninth in the Constructors’ Standings, so they are in need of improvements if they are to become competitive again.

But this is difficult when their spending is restricted, so the cost cap is somewhat of a double-edged sword.

“It’s the same old game, nothing has changed,” said Vettel, quoted by RaceFans.net.

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“It’s been like this for as long as I can remember. So I have never seen a team starting last in the beginning of the season and all of a sudden being in the front at the end of the season. 

READ: Aston Martin reveal how Sebastian Vettel has changed since announcing his retirement

“You don’t catch up, and probably this is the hardest year to catch up because you can’t spend money. It is what it is.”

Vettel is set to leave Aston Martin and retire at the end of the 2022 season, and he will be replaced by Alpine’s Fernando Alonso.

Team principal, Mike Krack, hopes that the double world champion will challenge them by asking “uncomfortable questions” as they look to climb to the top of the grid.