(Austin) Christian Horner, boss of Red Bull, under a sanction from the International Automobile Federation for exceeding the budget ceiling during the 2021 season, assured that this was not the case and hoped for an early outcome.
Posted at 5:07 p.m.
“We are in the middle of the procedure with the FIA, we hope to complete this file. At that point, all the facts will be on the table and we can talk openly about why we think our costs are fully in line,” Horner told reporters on the eve of the States Grand Prix. States in Austin, Texas.
“We hope to reach a resolution in the near future,” he added.
Red Bull had planned a press conference on Friday to communicate on the subject, but canceled it because the interview requested the day before by Christian Horner with the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, did not take place. The two men finally met on Friday, according to several media.
However, it was precisely on Thursday that the body formulated a proposal for a sanction to Red Bull, which the team must accept or not.
The team of now double world champion Max Verstappen, the only ones to exceed the budget cap in 2021, the first season of this financial regulation, committed a “minor violation”, less than 5% of the ceiling set at 145 million dollars US.
“This measure is a new process. A convoluted set of financial regulations contained in a 52-page file, subject to different interpretations by different accountants,” said Horner.
Sporting and financial penalty?
F1 regulations provide that any team found to be at fault incurs “a financial or sporting penalty”. If Red Bull does not admit that it is at fault, and therefore decides to refuse the agreement, the case will be brought before the competent arbitration committee in matters of budget cap (“Cost Cap Adjudication Panel”).
According to German media Auto, Motor und Sport, the FIA’s proposal to Red Bull is a 25% reduction in total wind tunnel time – an important step in preparing a car aerodynamically – for next season, as well than a financial fine.
A retroactive points deduction for 2021 would therefore not be applied, Max Verstappen then retaining his first world championship title and Red Bull his second place in the constructors’ classification, behind Mercedes.
“I can’t talk about it, it’s confidential between the FIA and us,” said Horner of this. “Once the deal is done, there will be total transparency and I will talk about everything. I hope it will be resolved this weekend. Otherwise, it could drag on for six or nine months. »
In recent days, rival teams have been demanding tough penalties against Red Bull. McLaren boss Zak Brown said there was cheating in a letter to the FIA.
“We are judged on the basis of figures published in the media, which are far removed from reality. The damage this is doing to the brand, to our partners, to our riders, to our people is enormous,” Horner replied seated next to Brown.
And to continue: “we are seeing serious problems within our workforce. Children of our employees are being bullied in the playground. You can’t make those kind of allegations. We are appalled by the behavior of our competitors”.