F1 News: Red Bull Confirmed To Have Breached Cost Cap, But What Will Happen To Max Verstappen?
It’s been confirmed by the FIA that Red Bull Racing has indeed breached the 2021 cost cap and will therefore be punished. The exact punishment hasn’t yet been revealed by the FIA, but it’s looking as though Max Verstappen doesn’t have to worry about his title.
The outcome of the FIA’s investigation into the 2021 cost cap has returned today with both Red Bull being confirmed to have breached the cap. It is being classed as a minor offence, with the team reportedly breaching the cost cap by $2 million. Aston Martin, the other team rumoured to have gone over the cost cap, seems to have been found in procedural breach but have kept within the cost cap.
The following tweet reads:
“Multiple sources report that Red Bull has indeed exceeded the budget cap in 2021. But the sometimes circulating amounts are nonsense. It would be about 1 to 2 million dollars. Not in terms of car development, but due to costs such as catering and absenteeism due to illness.”
Meerdere bronnen melden dat Red Bull inderdaad het budgetplafond in 2021 heeft overschreden. Maar de soms circulerende bedragen zijn onzin. Het zou gaan om 1 tot 2 miljoen dollar. Niet wat ontwikkeling auto betreft, maar door kosten als catering en ziekteverzuim. #F1
— Erik van Haren (@ErikvHaren) October 10, 2022
Red Bull has since made the following statement, explaining how they are surprised and disappointed with the results of this investigation:
“We note the findings by the FIA of ‘minor overspend breaches of the Financial regulations’ with surprise and disappointment. Our 2021 submission was below the cost cap limit, so we need to carefully review the FIA’s findings as our belief remains that the relevant costs are under the 2021 cost cap amount.
“Despite the conjecture and positioning of others, there is of course a process under the regulations with the FIA which we will respectfully follow while we consider all the options available to us.”
It’s rumoured that Red Bull will be fined, but within the FIA regulations, the team could also be eligible for other penalties.
