During the Baku Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez were involved in an accident that compromised their race. Both were fighting for the podium, but their duel became too physical, culminating in an impact with the barriers that forced both to retire. FIA, after analyzing the episode, decided not to assign penalties, considering the contact a normal racing incident. However, for Red Bull, The damage from the crash between Sainz and Perez in Baku was not only sporting, but also economic, with significant consequences due to the budget cap that imposes strict limits on team spending.
Helmut Marko's concerns: Sainz-Perez crash in Baku another blow to budget cap
After the accident, Helmut Marko expressed concern about the financial impact this new episode will have on the team. Red Bull had already had to deal with the high costs of repairing Perez's car, who was involved in an accident in Monaco that cost between 2 and 3 million euros. Marko said:
“The incident with Sainz was very unfortunate and will have major consequences for us, especially financially. With the budget cap so restrictive, any damage has a huge weight. After the Monaco episode, where the repair costs were around 3 million euros, this latest blow puts us in serious difficulty. We have to deal with these unexpected expenses, and with Singapore on the doorstep, it will be a challenge to become competitive again without compromising our resources.”
Christian Horner: Impact on the constructors' championship
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner also expressed concern, stressing that these incidents not only have an economic impact, but also on the constructors' championship. Horner highlighted the fact that the team is already fighting to defend the title, with McLaren having closed the gap in the standings, taking the lead this weekend in Baku. Horner said:
“These ongoing incidents not only eat into our budget, but also complicate our fight for the constructors’ title. Every unscheduled repair takes away funds that could be allocated to future development. McLaren is growing strongly and we are already seeing our margin over them shrink. We cannot afford more of these incidents if we want to maintain our leading position.”
Source statements: FormulaPassion
