The Red Bull Formula One team has received a fine of $7million and 10% forfeit of its aerodynamic development research allowance.
The team has been found to have exceeded the sport’s budget cap, as governing body, the FIA, revealed £1.86million-worth of overspending in 2021.
Red Bull Team Principal, Christian Horner, commented: “We have been provided a significant financial and sporting penalty – $7million is an enormous amount of money and the more draconian part is the sporting penalty, which is a 10% reduction in our ability to use our wind tunnel and aerodynamic tools.
“That is an enormous amount. That represents between 0.25secs and 0.5secs of lap time. It comes in from now and will be in place for a 12-month period and will have an impact on development of our 2023 car.”
The team had initially disputed the accusations, but via the ABA, Red Bull have effectively admitted doing so.
Red Bull was already going to have the least amount of development time for the 2023 car after winning the ’22 Constructors’ Championship.
However, the organisation found that the team did not fraudulently go over the cost cap and was ‘at all times open and transparent throughout the process’, displaying a ‘willingness’ to come to a settlement in the situation.
Rival teams have also commented on the story. McLaren’s Chief Executive Officer, Zak Brown, said that he is ‘pleased the truth is out’ and that the result is as he expected.
“If the FIA is to be most effective and its punishments serve as a lesson to others when rules are broken in this way, the sanctions have to be much stronger in the future,” he continued.
“We hope that the lessons learned through this process will now mean all teams have a clear understanding of the rules in order to avoid any future breaches. While we are pleased to see them act, we would hope the FIA takes stronger action in future against those that wilfully break the rules.”
The story continues as further rival teams will now contemplate as to whether the punishment is appropriate, for example whether the fine will have any effect on a wealthy global corporation.
