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Singapore (AFP) – British team principal Christian Horner on Friday denied rumors that his Austrian yard had exceeded its budget limit in the 2021 Formula One World Championship, which might expose him to penalties.
Speculation arose ahead of Friday’s free practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix that two of the championship’s 10 teams had exceeded the $145 million ceiling and might be punished by the FIA.
Fingers were pointed at Red Bull following it was rumored that they had gone through the roof with modifications to some of the car’s parts to help Dutchman Max Verstappen to his first title last year.
Horner told Sky Sports he believed in the procedure at the FIA, with the authority due to publish results next week.
“All the accounts were submitted to the FIA in March and we are still in the process of doing so,” he said from the Marina Bay circuit.
He added, “They are following these procedures correctly, and they will announce the results in the middle of next week. Our budgets have not exceeded the maximum, and Phia must follow the procedures he is currently doing,” noting that a spending ceiling was set for the first time last season.
“It’s a whole new set of regulations and laws, so how the rules are interpreted and enforced is not going to be objective, and as the years go by things will get in order,” Horner said.
The FIA report will be released next week with penalties that might include fines and a deduction from championship points.
“We are confident in our case,” Horner concluded. “There are always rumours.”
© 2022 AFP
