It might be some time until the sanction for exceeding Red Bull’s now-confirmed budget cap is decided.
The Austrian team has officially reacted to the FIA’s confirmation of minor overruns last year with “surprise and disappointment”.
F1’s governing body has said it “now determined the appropriate course of action”but harsh penalties such as stripping Max Verstappen’s 2021 title seem out of the question.
Possible penalties include an agreed settlement with Red Bull or referral to the Cost Cap Arbitration Committee, with the most severe penalties ruled out because Red Bull’s overspending is less than 5%.
The procedure is complicated and it might take some time before we know exactly what the consequences are, we already admit on the side of the FIA
Most F1 watchers expect a hefty fine or cut in resources like time spent in the wind tunnel or lowering Red Bull’s budget cap.
The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, however, had access to certain information.
“Red Bull did not spend too much on the development of the car. Mistakes were made on other topics, such as catering or taking into account wages in absenteeism due to illness.”
Where teams counted their absent employees in the ceiling, Red Bull took them out.
On the side of Aston Martin F1, which is in procedural violation of the budget cap, this should be easier to settle. It is recalled that Williams’ procedural issues (accounts not submitted on time) were settled earlier this season with a €25,000 fine.
