Red Bull said the team is ‘surprised and disappointed’ by the findings
Red Bull breached procedural and overspend rules during the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship where Max Verstappen secured his first title win, an investigation has concluded.
The FIA on Monday confirmed its Cost Cap Administration had completed the review of the reporting documentation submitted by each competitor that participated in the 2021 championship and that two teams had breached financial regulations.
The findings, released after the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix, found that Aston Martin are in ‘Procedural Breach’ and Red Bull committed a Procedural Breach and a Minor Financial Overspend (less than 5 per cent of the Cost Cap).
Red Bull issued a statement on Twitter on Monday saying it was “surprised and disappointed” by the findings and that it was now considering “all the options available to us”.
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 10, 2022
Williams were found to have made a Procedural Breach in May 2022 that the team then rectified in a “timely, cooperative and transparent manner”.
The FIA wrote: “The review of the Reporting Documentation submitted has been an intensive and thorough process, and all Competitors gave their full support in providing the required information to assess their financial situation during this first year of the Financial Regulations. The FIA Cost Cap Administration notes that all Competitors acted at all times in a spirit of good faith and cooperation throughout the process.
“The FIA would also note that with respect to this first year of the application of the Financial Regulations the intervention of the FIA Cost Cap Administration has been limited to reviewing the submissions made by the Competitors and that no full formal investigations were launched.”
The statement continued that the FIA Cost Cap Administration is “currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken” under the Financial Regulations with respect to Aston Martin and Red Bull.
Further information will be “communicated in compliance with the Regulations”, the FIA wrote.
Procedural Breaches and Minor Overspend Breaches can result in financial penalties and/or minor sporting penalties.
Last week, Lewis Hamilton said it was “imperative” that suitable punishments are meted out for any team found to have broken Formula 1’s budget cap.
Hamilton said: “I like to think that if it’s being delayed, it’s because it’s being taken very seriously. “It would be bad for the sport if action wasn’t taken if there was a breach.”
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