And we're still here, yes. After the long crusade of 2022, and the controversy incessant the budget cap is preparing to return to the main topic of discussion in the summer of 2023. The FIA is in fact reportedly investigating several teams that engage in "extra" Formula 1 activities. That is, secondary activities that can in some way offer loopholes to evade or direct the budget cap. Red Bull has the largest empire, ranging from cycling, to sailing, to motorsport. But it is not the only one with other movements and with all these flows of money it becomes more difficult to control the regularity of expenses. According to what was reported by Journal of Sport the Federation would have issued a directive to control the costs relating to the other sports programs of four teams.
Among the four also Ferrari
Just a year ago, Red Bull was involved in the budget cap issue, sparking the anger of those who cannot tolerate certain reports being available only one year after the championship played. Red Bull, which returned to win the drivers' title with Max Verstappen in 2021, was sanctioned for having exceeded the expense limit in that season. Receiving as a penalty a fine and a reduction in hours in the wind tunnel (10%) for 2023. Aston Martin also had to pay a penalty - only a fine of 450 thousand dollars - for procedural violation.
These two teams are among the 4 from which the FIA would have asked for further information regarding the so-called “non-F1 activities". Together with them Ferrari and Mercedes. The Federation's concern is that the staff involved in other activities are used for research useful to F1, bypassing the budget cap. The Maranello team did not start the F1 season on the right foot but they certainly attracted attention in the WEC, with the recent victory at Le Mans with the 499P driven by Pier Guidi, Giovinazzi and Calado in the year of the return of the Red after 58 years.
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport
