October 10, (THEWILL) – Formula 1 regulating body, the Fédération Internationale d’Automobile (FIA), has discovered that Red Bull has a “minor” breach of the required F1 budget cap in the 2021 season and is currently deciding what sanctions to impose on the team.
A “minor” overspend entails Red Bull spending less than 5% more than anticipated. Teams Red Bull and Aston Martin, were both found to have filled out forms incorrectly, which is considered a procedural violation. But, the other nine teams met the $145 million expenditure ceiling in 2021, according to the FIA.
Potential penalties for the violation vary from public censure to a points reduction. The latter could impact the team after the way last season finished. As THEWILL reported, on the penultimate lap of the championship race in Abu Dhabi, Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, controversially denying the Brit a record-tying ninth title.
The FIA statement read: “The FIA Cost Cap Administration is currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken under the Financial Regulations with respect to Aston Martin and Red Bull and further information will be communicated in compliance with the Regulations.
“With respect to this first year of the application of the financial regulations, the intervention of the FIA cost-cap administration has been limited to reviewing the submissions made by the competitors and that no full formal investigations were launched.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
