Formula One team Red Bull breached budget regulations last season and was guilty of “minor” overspending, the series’ governing body said.
The FIA announced the verdict of its investigation into whether F1 teams violated the spending regulations in 2021.
Red Bull took note of FIA’s conclusions with “surprise and disappointment.”
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“Our 2021 submission was below the cost cap limit,” Red Bull said in a statement. “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.”
Last year, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won his first world title on the last lap of the last race. Verstappen clinched his second straight title on Sunday at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The FIA said Red Bull was “considered to be in procedural and minor overspend breaches of the financial regulations” in 2021 but any sanctions would be announced at a later date. The FIA did not say how much the team overspent.
Going over the budget cap by less than five per cent is considered a minor breach and it appears very unlikely that Verstappen will lose his 2021 title. He beat Lewis Hamilton to the title in a controversial finish to the last race. Under FIA regulations, teams found guilty of a minor overspend breach can be punished with a fine “and/or any minor sporting penalties.”
Leading commentator Martin Brundle said there’s still much to play out.
“What seems absolutely crazy to me is that a minor breach can be up to five percent, we know that’s a massive upgrade on a car,” he told Sky Sports.
“That needs tightening up to start with. I’m assuming the FIA will have to crackdown hard on any minor breaches.
“We need clarity and it needs to be rigid and a five per cent variance is way too much.”
Another F1 team, Aston Martin, was considered to be in a “procedural breach” of the regulations, FIA said.
“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,” the body said in a statement.
F1 introduced a budget cap of $230 million last year. The aim of capping budgets was to create a more level playing field and to reduce the spending might of powerhouses such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.
It was scaled down to $222 million for 2022 and drops to $214 million for 2023, excluding driver salaries and engine costs.
Reports speculated last month that Red Bull went above the budget cap by five per cent — or around $11 million — which constitutes a more serious material breach and could be punishable by a ban. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff demanded FIA take action if Red Bull or other teams broke the rule, while Ferrari also complained.
Earlier, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told BBC Radio 4 the team was confident it was under the cap in 2021, and it had been “shocked at the speculation and accusations that have been made by other teams.”
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