Newey now at the center of Red Bull F1 budget overrun?
Oct.18 - Adrian Newey, one of the most successful and recognisable Formula 1 designers in history, is reportedly at the centre of the budget cap scandal.
This week, McLaren supremo Zak Brown wrote a letter to FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem accusing Red Bull of "cheating" by spending above the budget cap limit en route to the 2021 title.
The FIA has found the energy drink-owned team in "minor" breach of the 2021 cap, with an appropriate penalty now in the process of being negotiated.
"The penalties will come later," correspondent Allesandra Retico told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. "But a fine would not be a deterrent against transgressing."
Indeed, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff thinks even a $10 million fine for a hypothetical $2 million overspend would not be appropriate.
"If you spend $5 million too much and that's apparently a minor infraction, it still has a huge impact on the championship," he is quoted by Marca.
"Even if Red Bull spent 2 million more, they cannot fix the matter even by paying five times more to the FIA."
In his leaked letter to ben Sulayem, McLaren's Brown is the first team boss to outwardly accuse Red Bull of "cheating".
"The overspend breach, and possibly the procedural breaches, constitute cheating by offering a significant advantage across technical, sporting and financial regulations," he wrote.
"We don't feel a financial penalty alone would be a suitable penalty for an overspend breach or a serious procedural breach."
Even former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who has been historically close to Red Bull, is on the record predicting that the penalty will be "worse" than a fine.
Brown proposes that Red Bull's 2023 budget cap should be reduced, with wind tunnel and CFD time reduced by 20 percent.
There have been rumours that Red Bull's overspend related to minor financial matters including catering and sick pay, but new reports suggest that chief technical officer Newey is at the centre of the dispute.
The claim was initially made by Germany's authoritative Auto Motor und Sport, and now the Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport agrees that the breach "involves Adrian Newey".
"Newey is one of the team's highest paid employees and there is some debate as to whether he is a Red Bull employee or if the contract is with Adrian's company," the broadcaster said.
"Red Bull claims that he works directly for the team, so according to the rules he is not included in the spending limit. The FIA does not agree with this as he is engaged via his firm, and this means he does not fall under the exceptions to the limit."
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Not Rocket science , his company maybe employed to work within Rb and the employee of said company is AN, or hes directly employed by RB same cost either way, if its an issue fine , then its an accountants f88k up, but as for leaked letters , come on Zak , you guys leaked it yourselves, Zak can say what he likes , the teams can gang up on RB all they like , it makes ZERO difference , one txt msg from Marko, WE ARE PULLING OUT and its a minor breach again im loving it... oh thats Mcdonalds saying , get another burger Zak keep that belly full, the fia have already said its under 5% remind me guys how much is AN on per yr, no stop im laughing too much
Absolutely farcical. If AN is directly employed by the team he is exempt from the cap but if he's via his own firm then he's in the cap limit? What difference does it make except to keep some flipping lawyers and accountants employed?
Another shot in the foot by the wonderful people running F1. These people couldn't get the nose of a person with the flu to run properly!
If the beef is whether Newey is an employee or a contractor there is a simple test. Is the check made out in his name or his company's name. Been in this pickle myself and as Shrop' says, this is not rocket science.
Correct Ror Me thinks the journos are very very very bored, and Andy people do like to make story I agree Farcical rule
Not all over shropp,, latest news, sir Lulu has apparently "so he is saying" designed the latest FI steering wheel for merc and now every team in the paddock is using his design,, his big regret now is that he didn't bother to patent it Oh!! what a plonker.
Huge mistake then from the Dame which surprises me, as he was very quick to jump on Hamilton watches, oh yeah and Lose, a 42 carat plonker as Del says
In America the test is simply, "Does Red Bull control the time and place where Adrian Newey works?" This overrides the name on check test.
What a bunch of useless team principals we have.
Wolff won't stop bleating about last year, and now trying to tell FIA how to sanction Red Bull. His drivers caused extra cost to RB by damaging their cars.
Binotto can't differentiate between last year and this year budget, carrying on about a light weight chassis which is this year.
Brown is the bloke that signed up RIC without a get out clause for McLaren not factoring in that RIC may not perform after his mediocre form with Renault.n
Yes great bunch of team prhicipals
Fascinating. A Mercedes customer loudly agreeing with Toto Wolff's position.
The more transparent F1 becomes the worse it looks. Any body associated with the FIA and RBr should hold their heads in shame and begged to be kept in the sport. Nothing less that disqualification for all championships won whilst cheating will suffice. The FIA are a typical sporting body with zero regulation. As far removed from the spirit and meaning of sport as you can get. Pathetic children. I loved it.
Wolff in his haste to tell the FIA how to sanction RB has painted himself in to a corner.
RB over budget was not deliberate.
Wollf is saying if RB don't get a severe penalty then Merc will deliberately overspend to gain a performance advantage. If Merc did that deliberately then the penalty for tbat should be exclusion from the championship.
Merc had the fastest car for the last few races last year so where was the RB advantage.
I think all team principals should shut up and don't write to the FIA , trying to influence the penalty
Les stop picking on Christian , hes got a whole 8 seasons in f1, oh lets play a game called How many years as an F1 Boss...
Mercedes- Toto Wolff 8yrs
Red Bull- Christian Horner 17yrs
Ferrari- Mattia Binotto 3yrs
McLaren- Andreas Seidl
Alpine- Otmar Szafnauer
AlphaTauri- Franz Tost 17yrs
Aston Martin- Mike Krack
Williams- Jost Capito
Alfa Romeo- Frederic Vasseur
Haas- Guenther Steiner 21yrs (little known fact Gunny was at RB, and worked closely with CH )
See who can fill in the gaps and rearrange most to least f1 experience (Bonus points for the team that's complained to the Fia the most about the sugar team, feel free to swop people about like Big Zack at Mcl )