Friday in Singapore told us many things. One of the most surprising was without doubt the news regarding the budget cap. According to what emerged from the Marina Bay paddocks, Well two teams missed the $145 million cap last season. And now, the situation gets really complicated.
Under accusation
So there are two teams in the dock: Aston Martin and Red Bull. The main focus is on the Milton Keynes teambut for quite clear reasons. If on the one hand indeed the Aston Martin, in going over budget, did not go beyond 5 million dollars, on the other hand, the situation at Red Bull is more worrying. The Milton Keynes team has indeed passed the ceiling imposed by the budget cap is around 9-10 million. An absolutely enormous figure, which naturally makes us reflect on what the consequences could be.
Red Bull risks big
Yesterday the intervention of the FIA with the report of the figures spent by the teams during 2021. However, the hitch with Red Bull postponed the communication until next week. The reason is very simple. Red Bull has indeed declared that he had gone over in departments that do not fall within the budget expenditures, as instead assessed by the FIA. For these reasons, the Federation is waiting to receive the directive from Red Bull explaining the situation, before making definitive decisions.
Horner: "It's a complicated regulation"
Who tried to explain well what is happening is the team principal of the Austrian team Christian Horner.
“I've heard about these rumors and big breaches, but I'm not aware of them. The accounts were presented in March. There have been lengthy discussions with the FIA. They are rightfully following this process and will be declaring their certificates mid next week. Our presentation was within the parameters of the budget cap, it is up to the FIA to follow its processes. This is a new and complicated regulation. Then, how the rules are interpreted and enforced will be a matter for discussion between the teams. Over the years things will clear up, but we are confident in the validity of our presentation. It's the first time it's happened. We do our part and get checked out anyway. It is a similar process to that of an auditor. So, it's a bit too “tailor-made” for F1“.
The teams are not there
Following this statement, and situation, the idea in the paddock seems to be very clear: Red Bull made a mistake and must be sanctioned. It was the spokesperson for this decision Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
"It's funny that Christian says that, because he's been investigating them for weeks and months, maybe he doesn't talk to his CFO. All of us have been thoroughly investigated and, as far as we know, there is a team that has committed a minor violation, which is procedural in nature, and another team that committed a massive excess. So, this is an open secret in the paddock. The FIA has set up very solid governance. In this case, you will receive a certificate of compliance and if you are not in compliance, you will have to pay for the cost ceiling".
What is Red Bull at risk?
If it should therefore be confirmed that Red Bull exceeded the budget cap by 10 million last season, the ball would pass into the hands of the FIA. But the problem, if you will, is precisely this. If by now you know that Aston Martin, having not exceeded 5 million, will face a hefty fine, it is not yet known what sanction could happen to Red Bull. The reason? In the regulation, which is also very difficult to interpret, it is not specified the sanction that will be applied to teams that go over the budget by 5 million. So there are several options: it goes from the reduction of the budget in view of the next season, to the deduction of the pilot points assigned for the Championship held within the Period of Notification of the infraction.
The show has just begun
Yesterday chaos broke out, the FIA-Red Bull battle over the common denominator of the budget cap it has just begun. Let's make ourselves comfortable, because we will undoubtedly see some good ones, or some bad ones, of course it depends on the point of view.
