F1 will have ‘awesome competition in a couple of years’ as field closes up

In brief

Budget cap needs ‘another two years’ to produce “awesome competition” – Brown

McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Formula 1’s budget cap will take “probably another two years” before the system begins bringing teams closer together and increase competition.

In an interview posted by the team on social media, Brown said that teams with less sophisticated resources require a handful of years to build up facilities before they can compete with the larger teams. Asked when he forsaw the cap closing up the field, Brown said “I think probably another two years.

“I think even though we’re all kind of on the same money spend now, some teams have bigger infrastructures,” he explained.

“We’re still waiting for our wind tunnel, which is down the road to be done, which will be done here shortly – a new simulator. So even though everyone’s kind of on an equal playing field, or most teams from an annual expenditure standpoint, a handful of the teams have come in with a better technology infrastructure, which we’re catching up on and some other teams are.

“So I think as these regulations stabilise, people will catch up. I think in a couple of years time it’s going to be an awesome competition.”

Blakeley has one hand on esports title as Opmeer eliminated

Reigning two-win Formula 1 esports world champion Jarno Opmeer will lose his championship crown during tomorrow night’s final round after he was mathematically eliminated from contention.

McLaren Shadow driver Lucas Blakeley won his fourth race of the season at Interlagos, leading the majority of the race from pole in changeable conditions to extend his championship advantage to 21 points over Red Bull’s Frederik Rasmussen and Haas’ Thomas Ronhaar a further point behind. Blakeley requires only a top seven finish to secure his first F1 esports championship.

Fox Sports extends Mexico F1 broadcast deal

Formula 1 will remain on Fox Sports in Mexico for the next three seasons after Formula 1 announced it had extended its existing deal with the broadcaster.

Fox Sports Mexico will continue to hold exclusive rights to live coverage of the world championship until the end of the 2025 season. Belgian broadcaster Play Sports will also continue to show Formula 1 in the European nation for the…