Newey weighs in on whether F1's budget cap divides the grid

Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey has joined the debate over whether the budget cap has created a two-tier Formula 1 championship. Williams boss James Vowles has argued that it has, pointing out that the top four teams have scored 83% of the points over the cap's five years, compared with the 70s before it.

Vowles said the cap's aims of long-term financial sustainability, sporting equity and compression of the field had not all been met, adding that the share of podiums taken by teams outside the top four has fallen from 10% to 5%. Newey pointed to wind tunnel and engine dyno time, which he said is often granted to teams further behind, and suggested a similar extra budget allowance could follow for trailing teams.