Red Bull to escape 'draconian' penalty for F1 budget cap breach?
Oct.4 - Red Bull looks set to escape a "draconian" penalty amid the budget cap scandal.
Although the FIA is only scheduled to issue its compliance 'certificates' on Wednesday, rumours filled the Singapore paddock last weekend about an up to $10 million budget cap breach.
"We must wait for the results to be published," former Mercedes boss Norbert Haug told motorsport-total.com.
"But if it can be proved that they exceeded the limit, the measures must be draconian. The budget cap is one of the most important aspects of the entire Formula 1 regulations.
"If it is not observed, everything else does not matter at all."
Haug's opinion is shared by many in the paddock, but the rumours of a $10 million breach are yet to be confirmed.
Sources report that Red Bull has been able to explain away several of the FIA's qualms with the team's accounting, getting it under the 5 percent threshold for a minor violation.
Those same sources believe a $7.5 million fine for both Red Bull and Aston Martin is on the cards, as are wind tunnel usage restrictions.
Another source thinks a 50 constructors' point deduction is possible, but that would not affect the outcome of either the 2021 or 2022 title races.
"Christian Horner said that what Red Bull gave the FIA in March was all correct and within the cost cap," Williams boss Jost Capito told RTL. "And I have no reason not to believe him."
Capito added that "rumours" of a major Red Bull breach are just that, because "there is still no real evidence".
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto, however, insists that even if Red Bull's breach was only a 'minor' $4 million, that would still be a major problem.
"Four million? That's our entire development budget for one season," he said.
"It's 70 technicians and engineers that I can pay to find better solutions," Binotto added. "You can get half a second a lap out of that.
"This competitive advantage also has an effect in the following seasons. And it's an important issue because it's all about credibility."
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A sporting sanction should also come since overspending benefits their on-track performance & results.
Ah yes like the sanction Ferrari got for there super engine...
Just because red bull and the best at the minute. Mercedes should be ashamed of themselves after all the underhanded stuff like toe in and toe out on their braking and steering systems
IMO, appropriate penalty is a fine equal to the transgression and a reduction in next year's budget by that amount. That would be an attention getter and not tarnish the public 'show'. BUT, I still don't understand how the FIA can properly police spending.
Get Flav to police it, he knows all the angles.
Don't suppose he could do any worse, better than the job he is doing now,, what is it "hospitality" he is experienced & probably knows all the loopholes and it would be a career jump.
"It's 70 technicians and engineers that I can pay to find better solutions," Binotto added. "You can get half a second a lap out of that."
A: Other teams may get half a second out of that but Ferrari?
B:You are only paying Engineers and Techs $57,000? I think I may have discovered your problem.
yeah and 'managers' making 350,000 who don't know a socket wrench from a monkey wrench
Don't suppose he could do any worse, better than the job he is doing now,, what is it "hospitality" he is experienced & probably knows all the loopholes and it would be a career jump.
Rumours, rumours, rumours.
Let's wait for the evidence to be provided before we jump to conclusions!
Any team found guilty of a rule breach must be handed a significant penalty to discourage the practice from continuing.
Either that or scrap the whole budget cap debacle. I am sure it leaves the opportunity for some creative accounting to disguise the reality!
Michael Masi , has apparently been employed by Rb to interpret the rules around the budget cap for 2023.