The Formula 1 ecosystem is currently in a state of technical and political turmoil that has spilled over beyond the racetracks and turned into a war of words.
The tension between Franco Colapinto and Sergio Pérez, the two most influential figures in Latin American motorsports today, has escalated unexpectedly in the wake of Cadillac's recent stance on Alpine's structure.
This conflict not only affects public perception of the drivers but also highlights an internal rift between teams powered by different manufacturers amid suspicions of irregularities in the development of power units for the upcoming seasons. The Mexican driver's team has been the latest to join the controversy over the alleged cheating or technical advantage that Mercedes may have found in its power unit.
This is what team boss Graeme Lowdon told SkySports: "I can't speak for other people's power units or how they have interpreted the regulations. But to me it's very clear that it's there, black and white.
"Without going into too much detail, we know that Ferrari has fully complied with the rules in this regard. That gives us a lot of confidence. What gives me a lot of confidence and makes me very happy is that we have a completely legal engine," he said.
Lowdon's defense of legality casts doubt on the rest of the grid at a time when fuel flow and energy recovery via the MGU-K are under scrutiny by the FIA. While technical policy dominates the headlines, uncertainty over seat stability for next season keeps fans on tenterhooks.
How much will Checo Pérez earn at Cadillac?
Sergio Pérez is back in Formula 1 and now information has emerged about the Mexican's salary at Cadillac. According to recent reports, the Jalisco-born driver will earn a significant amount with the American team: "PlanetF1.com has learned that Pérez has signed a multi-year contract with Cadillac.
"In addition, it is suggested that he has a base salary of close to $10 million, a contract that is reportedly equivalent to his previous contract with Red Bull. The driver will also reportedly receive bonuses for his results, such as championship positions, podium finishes, and victories, and his income will be increased by a percentage of official merchandise sales.
"This is a huge advantage for Pérez, who was reportedly responsible for more than 60% of Red Bull's online merchandise sales. Cadillac has been interested in signing Pérez based primarily on what he can offer as a driver, rather than the impressive list of sponsors he has boasted about in the past," they said.
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