Vettel’s team is also affected
World association confirms breach of rules by Red Bull
10/10/2022, 6:27 p.m
In the past week, emotions in Formula 1 have been running extremely high. It transpires that Red Bull is said to have exceeded the cost cap. Even Max Verstappen’s world title is in question. Now the FIA confirms: Yes, the racing team spent more money than allowed, but restricts the act.
The Formula 1 team Red Bull spent more money in Max Verstappen’s first world championship season than the rules allowed. As the motorsport world association FIA announced after a month-long cost cap review, the racing team only “slightly” exceeded the set cost limit last year. The report shows that Red Bull, like Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin team, also violated procedural rules within the framework of the budget guidelines.
The FIA now wants to examine possible sanctions against the two racing teams. The umbrella organization pointed out that the teams’ offenses can result in financial and sporting penalties. However, a mandatory deduction of championship points in the constructors’ ranking only occurs if the cost limit is significantly exceeded.
That would be the case if a team was more than five percent over the $148.6 million limit for the previous year. That’s about seven million dollars. Verstappen’s first world title is probably not in danger afterwards.
Red Bull reacted to the FIA results with “surprise and disappointment”. The team remained confident that its 2021 spending was below the limit. Therefore, the racing team will now check the FIA documents and possible measures, it said in a statement.
The cost cap should increase equal opportunities, even if important items such as driver salaries are not included. The plan was worked out jointly by all teams.
Recently there had been a lot of fuss about possible rule violations at Red Bull. The racing team suspected an attack by the competition behind it to cause unrest in the paddock. Mercedes and Ferrari had indirectly demanded consequences, even if no names were given to each other. “We want these statements to be retracted. It’s not acceptable to say things like that,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who was convinced he hadn’t done anything wrong: “A line was crossed, punishments for to challenge us.” Red Bull reserved the right to take legal action. The statements are “defamatory”.