Date released: July 4 2020
Romain Grosjean feels it is “inappropriate” that some chauffeurs, specifically Lewis Hamilton, make as much as ₤ 40m while others are making just EUR150,000 per season.
Hamiltons wage is among the hot topics at the Red Bull Ring this weekend with reports declaring hes making demands for a boost.
Toto Wolff, however, is said to only be ready to put ₤ 20m on the table as the world tries to recover from the pandemic caused monetary crisis.
Hamilton says neither the ₤ 40m nor the report of the lower need is real and informed the media to stop making “sh * t up”.
In any case it is the most recent chapter in the dispute over whether motorists incomes ought to be included in Formula 1s spending plan cap.
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Next year the teams will operate under a $145m cap that will be minimized to $130m over the following 2 seasons.
Some teams, such as Renault, wish to see the motorists salaries consisted of in the cap.
” Its part of the dispute, part of whats on the table, [Has] an additional complexity of legality, due to the fact that we need to ensure that its legal, in the sense that we require to make certain that its forceable,” Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul recently informed Sky Sports F1.
” And likewise the additional intricacy that you have some drivers that have currently very long-lasting contracts– so congratulations to Max [Verstappen] in that respect.
” But I believe if we require to make exceptions for systems that will be healthy, and essential for the sustainability of the sport, I believe we still require to do it.
” We believe bringing a bit of rationale on driver wage when a variety of individuals will be laid off since of the spending plan cap would make good sense.”
Grosjean, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), was requested for his ideas on chauffeurs incomes being included in the cap.
” We had this talk in the GPDA,” he informed Autosport.
” Some remained in favour, others protested.
” I do believe its undesirable that Lewis Hamilton earns more than ₤ 40 million while some drivers earn EUR150,000 a year for the same job.
” However, what was mentioned was that if we cap drivers wages, we break the entire ladder of motorsport.
” Who would invest money in young chauffeur programmes to pay for their racing if they cant get their money back by taking a percentage of the chauffeurs high salaries? Thats the argument.
” Personally, I wasnt always against the concept of having chauffeurs wages in the budget plan cap.
” But then, for sure, you would question what producer or supervisor would come and spend a fortune on a motorist just to reclaim 20 percent of something that is capped, so never get their cash back …”.
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