Red Bull Racing has expressed its “surprise and disappointment” that the FIA has found a violation of Formula 1’s cost cap for the 2021 season.
After some delay, the FIA announced on Monday afternoon that Red Bull had breached Formula 1’s financial regulations by “slightly exceeding” the 2021 cost cap of approximately $145 million, while Aston Martin and Williams had committed procedural violations of the rules.
After the decision was announced, Red Bull expressed surprise at the FIA’s verdict: “It is with surprise and disappointment that we note the FIA’s finding that it is a matter of ‘slightly exceeding the financial regulations’,” said the Milton Keynes team in a statement.
Red Bull still convinced of innocence
“Our 2021 submission was below the cost cap, so we need to carefully review the FIA’s findings as we remain satisfied that the relevant costs are below the 2021 cost cap amount.”
“Regardless of the conjectures and positions of others, there is of course a regulatory process with the FIA which we will respectfully follow while considering all the options available to us.”
Details on how much Red Bull is said to have overspent are sparse, with the matter likely going to the FIA’s “Cost Cap Adjudication Panel” should the team disagree with the FIA’s findings.
In its announcement, the FIA states: “The FIA Cost Cap Administration is currently determining the appropriate course of action under the Financial Regulations in relation to Aston Martin and Red Bull and further information will be announced in accordance with the regulations.”
Will the dispute between the top teams continue?
A minor infraction, meaning an overspending of less than five percent, can result in sanctions including a public censure, deduction of constructor or driver championship points, suspension of events, restrictions on aerodynamic testing or a reduction in the cost cap .
Red Bull has repeatedly stated that they are confident about the costs for 2021. At the Singapore Grand Prix, team boss Christian Horner said: “We believe that we are comfortably within the upper limit”.
By referring to the “suppositions and positions of others”, Red Bull referred to the repeated demands from Mercedes and Ferrari that the FIA should act decisively in the event of violations of the cost ceiling.
In Japan, Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto reiterated: “Five million is about half a second, even a million or two is about a tenth or two, which is about second on the grid or pole position if you maybe have the fastest car . Of course it’s about 2021 and from 2021 onwards it’s an advantage that you gain in the following seasons.”