Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has reacted to what he called “fictitious claims” from rivals that his team breached the Formula 1 budget cap last year.
Posted at 10:56 a.m.
Furious, Horner said he was considering legal action if those allegations are not withdrawn.
F1 set a budget cap of $145m last year when Max Verstappen narrowly won his maiden world title after beating Lewis Hamilton in a controversial finish at the final event of the calendar.
Rumors have swirled that Red Bull exceeded the budget cap by 5% — or around $7 million — which is a more serious material violation and could be punished by a ban.
Less than 5% is considered a minor infraction that could lead to a point deduction or suspension. Verstappen looks unlikely to lose his title for 2021.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has demanded the FIA take action if Red Bull or other teams have breached the rule. Ferrari also complained.
“From what we understand, there is a team in minor infraction, which is more procedural, and another team which is basically in massive excess,” Wolff said on Sky TV on Friday.
“So it’s an open secret in the paddock. »
Horner replied on Saturday.
“We were a little taken aback by the comments from our two rival teams,” he told a press conference on the sidelines of the Singapore Grand Prix.
“Submissions between the team and the FIA are confidential, and I have no idea of the outcome of our rivals’ submission. So, I would be intrigued to know where their source of information for these fictitious claims comes from. »
Horner also called the claims “extremely defamatory” and said their timing is tied to Verstappen being on the verge of winning his second consecutive world title.
“We can only assume it’s no coincidence that this happens at a time when Max has his first shot at a World Championship,” Horner said.
“We’re here talking about cost caps rather than Max’s phenomenal performance this year. It’s an underhanded tactic used to distract from, perhaps, a lack of on-track performance by our rivals. »
Mercedes have won every constructors’ championship since 2014, but seven-time F1 champion Hamilton and George Russell have not won a race between them this year.
Ferrari last won the drivers’ title in 2007 and have made a string of mistakes this season.