Sign inCreate free accountJoin
NewsDailyLive
Season
2026 season · round 16 next — Bahrain Grand Prix in MalaysiaSeason overview →2027: next season →Every season →
Driver standings1Andrea Kimi Antonelli3022George Russell2363Lewis Hamilton199
Team standings1MMercedes5382FFerrari3783MMcLaren306
Last race
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Baku City Circuit1George Russell2MVMax Verstappen3Isack HadjarRace Sat 11:00 UTC
Next race
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Sepang International CircuitRacePartly cloudy28°Race Sun 07:00 UTC
StandingsResultsScheduleCalendar
Drivers
This season's grid · championship orderAll drivers →
1Andrea Kimi AntonelliMercedes2George RussellMercedes3Lewis HamiltonFerrari4Lando NorrisMcLaren5CLCharles LeclercFerrari6MVMax VerstappenRed Bull7Oscar PiastriMcLaren8Isack HadjarRed Bull9Liam LawsonRB F1 Team10Pierre GaslyAlpine F1 Team11ALArvid LindbladRB F1 Team12Franco ColapintoAlpine F1 Team13Oliver BearmanHaas F1 Team14Gabriel BortoletoAudi15Nico HülkenbergAudi16Esteban OconHaas F1 Team17CSCarlos SainzWilliams18Alexander AlbonWilliams19Fernando AlonsoAston Martin20Yuki TsunodaRB F1 Team21Lance StrollAston Martin22Valtteri BottasCadillac F1 Team23SPSergio PérezCadillac F1 Team
Teams
Team championship orderAll teams →
1MMercedes538 pts2FFerrari378 pts3MMcLaren306 pts4RBRed Bull263 pts5RTRB F1 Team83 pts6ATAlpine F1 Team68 pts7HTHaas F1 Team27 pts8AAudi17 pts9WWilliams12 pts10AMAston Martin3 pts11CTCadillac F1 Team0 pts
RadioWatchPredictQuiz

The weekly digest

Every F1 story that mattered, one email, every Monday.

Every headline. Every lap time.

Formula 1 news from every major outlet, grouped into one story per event with neutral AI summaries — plus live timing, results and stats back to 1950.

News

NewsDaily briefingLive & timingTeam radioWhere to watch

The season

Season overviewResultsStandingsScheduleCalendarAll-time records

The grid

DriversTeamsCircuitsGlossaryPredictionsQuiz

Site

AboutContact usRSS

Legal

Terms of usePrivacy policyCookie policyCredits & sources

An independent fan site. Not affiliated with Formula 1, the FIA, or any team. F1 is a trademark of Formula One Licensing B.V.

News

James Vowles warns of two-tier championship in F1

the-race.com+ 5 moreFri 2 Oct · 07:50 UTCupdated Sat 3 Oct · 20:21 UTCHave your say
Image via the-race.com
The story so farNeutral summary generated from 6 sources

James Vowles, the team principal of Williams, has described Formula 1's cost cap as a 'trap' that has failed to level the playing field. He argues that the current financial regulations have widened the gap between the top teams and the rest of the grid.

Full coverage · 6 articles
Show 1 more from other outletsShow fewer

Loading comments…

First to reportCost cap creating 'two-tier' F1Formula 1’s "cost cap trap" is creating a “two-tier championship”, widening the gap between the top four teams and the rest, reckons this series team bossthe-race.comFri 2 Oct · 07:50 UTCRead their report →
Williams boss claims F1 has "failed" in two areas amid 'cost cap trap'James Vowles insists F1’s cost cap failed to compress the field, leaving top teams with an even bigger advantageCrashFri 2 Oct · 09:57 UTCRead →
Williams boss labels F1 cost cap a 'trap'Formula 1's cost cap has inadvertently created a "two tier" championship, according to Williams boss James Vowles.espn.comFri 2 Oct · 11:38 UTCRead →
F1 issued stark 'two-tier championship' warning over 'cost cap trap'It's not the first time James Vowles has spoken out, but this time, he is unequivocal.RacingNews365Fri 2 Oct · 12:20 UTCRead →
Vowles says cost cap has created two-tier F1Williams team principal James Vowles says Formula 1's cost cap has delivered financial stability but made it harder for the teams outside the leading group to close the competitive gap.grandprix.comFri 2 Oct · 13:13 UTCRead →
James Vowles Says F1’s Cost Cap Has Built a ‘Two-Tier Championship’ That Is Punishing WilliamsWilliams team principal James Vowles says Formula 1’s cost cap has built a “two-tier championship” rather than closing the competitive gap between teams. Vowles says…f1chronicle.comSat 3 Oct · 20:04 UTCRead →
This story
Save
In this story
WWilliamsFollowIgnore
Related stories
Williams reflect on their "well-executed qualifying" after Friday strugglesCarlos Sainz delivered a commendable qualifying performance for Williams, securing 13th place at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite the team's ongoing struggles with pace. Sainz's ability to progress through both qualifying sessions showcased his skill, as he managed to extract more performance from the FW48 than expected. Team Principal James Vowles acknowledged the positive aspects of Sainz's performance while also highlighting the limitations of the car. In contrast, Alex Albon faced a challenging qualifying session, finishing in 20th place but moving up to 18th due to penalties for other drivers. Albon's difficulties were attributed to a different setup direction that did not yield the desired results. Both drivers are preparing for a race that could be influenced by high tyre degradation and potential rain, with the team hoping to capitalise on any opportunities that arise.f1technical.netSat 3 OctWhy was the Sepang practice day a disappointment for Williams?Williams faced a challenging practice day at Sepang as they assessed their upgrade package from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz reported difficulties with the car's high-speed performance, with Albon finishing 17th in the first session and last in the second, while Sainz improved but remained in the lower midfield. Albon expressed concerns about rear stability, while Sainz noted that high-speed corners were contributing to tyre degradation. The team’s Chief Engineer, Paul Williams, acknowledged that Sepang presented a tougher test for their upgrades compared to Baku, highlighting the need to gather data on the car's limitations. With high tyre degradation expected due to the rough track surface and high temperatures, managing tyre performance will be crucial for the race. The team is focused on isolating the car's weaknesses to inform future developments.f1technical.netFri 2 OctCarlos Sainz admits ‘desire will shift’ away from Williams if he never gets what George Russell hasCarlos Sainz has always maintained that he is happy to see his future at Williams, but now it seems the love affair is conditional for ...f1oversteer.comFri 2 OctDamon Hill responds to claims Adrian Newey's Red Bull success 'wasn't all his own work'Damon Hill has come to the defence of Adrian Newey, who is currently facing criticism for his performance at Aston Martin. Hill, who has worked closely with Newey in the past, highlighted Newey's impressive track record in Formula 1, particularly during his time with Red Bull, and expressed confidence that Newey can turn things around at Aston Martin despite the team's current struggles. Hill also addressed the challenges faced by Honda, the engine supplier for Aston Martin, noting their need for focus and direction to improve their competitive standing. He believes that with the right guidance, Honda can make significant progress, and he pointed out that the current deficit could lead to substantial advancements in the future.f1oversteer.comThu 1 OctWilliams made a promise to Carlos Sainz in private meeting before he signed new F1 contractWilliams have managed to convince Carlos Sainz to stay on board for 2027, despite his public outrage over the team’s current situation. After scoring two ...f1oversteer.comWed 30 Sep
View more →
Comments

Sign in to join the conversation — comments are for registered members.

No one has weighed in yet. What do you make of it?