Red Bull found guilty of committing 'minor' breach of F1 budget cap in 2021 - the year Max Verstappen won title
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Updated 10/10/2022 at 16:21 GMT
The news that Red Bull have committed a “minor” breach of the budget – i.e. exceeding the budget by less than 5% – could have big ramifications if the FIA decide to punish them. Max Verstappen, who won a second world title in bizarre circumstances in Japan on Sunday, clinched the 2021 title after late and controversial drama involving the safety car in Abu Dhabi.
'We have been close to perfect' - Verstappen on second F1 world title
Red Bull committed a "minor" breach of the F1 budget cap in the 2021 season, with the FIA, the sport's governing body, now determining what action will be taken.
Red Bull, along with Aston Martin, were also found to have committed a procedural breach - failing to fill in forms correctly. The FIA confirmed the other nine teams were under the 2021 $145m (£114m) cost cap.
A minor overspend means Red Bull exceeded the budget by less than 5%.
The breach carries a range of potential sanctions, from a public reprimand to a points deduction.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the 2021 drivers’ championship on the last lap of the final race in Abu Dhabi as Lewis Hamilton was controversially denied a record eighth crown. Verstappen won a second title at the Japanese Grand Prix at the weekend.
"The FIA Cost Cap Administration is currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken under the Financial Regulations with respect to Aston Martin and Red Bull and further information will be communicated in compliance with the Regulations," read an FIA statement.
Red Bull swiftly hit back at the announcement with "surprise and disappointment".
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff had previously branded any excess spending a “heavyweight issue”.
The FIA has not revealed the amount by which Red Bull exceeded the cap or what punishment would be applied.
A statement added: "With respect to this first year of the application of the financial regulations, the intervention of the FIA cost-cap administration has been limited to reviewing the submissions made by the competitors and that no full formal investigations were launched."
Red Bull and Aston Martin could appeal against the decision.
Hamilton appeared to question Red Bull’s spending during the 2021 season at the Japanese Grand Prix.
“What I can say is I remember last year in Silverstone we had our last upgrade and fortunately it was great and we could fight with it," said Hamilton.
"But then we would see Red Bull every weekend or every other weekend bringing upgrades. They had, I think, at least four more upgrades from that point.
"If we spent £300,000 on a new floor, or adapted a wing, it would have changed the outcome of the championship naturally because we would have been in better competition in the next race if you add it on.
"So, I hope that that's not the case. I do believe Mohammed [Ben Sulayem, FIA president] and the FIA will do what is right with whatever they find out."
Verstappen won the 2021 title by just eight points from Hamilton, a victory only possible after the late, late safety car drama in Abu Dhabi.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has said he is “absolutely confident” the team did not overspend and was “taken aback” by comments from Mercedes and Ferrari.
“The submissions between the team and the FIA is confidential, and I have no idea what the outcome of our rivals’ submission is so I would be intrigued to know where their source of information for these fictitious claims has come from.
“They are hugely defamatory, and one can only assume that it is not a coincidence that this comes at a point where Max has his first strike at a world championship.
“We are here talking about cost caps rather than the phenomenal performance Max has had this year. It is an under-hand tactic employed to detract from perhaps a lack of performance on track from our rivals.
“The FIA has stated that they have not completed their process, so unless there is a clear withdrawal of those statements, we will be taking it extremely seriously.”
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