The FIA has confirmed that Red Bull breached the budget ceiling for the 2021 season, but only committed a “minor” breach. He also made a “procedural” error in following the rules, the FIA said.
The sport’s governing body said Aston Martin had not fully complied with the rules, saying they had committed a “procedural” breach and not improper spending.
A third team, Williams, also committed a breach of protocol that was reported earlier this year.
The FIA did not reveal how far Red Bull exceeded the spending limit. Teams were limited to $145 million in cap space last season. The financial rules define a “minor” breach of up to 5%, meaning Red Bull’s excess costs do not exceed $7.25m.
No sanctions were announced for the violations committed by Red Bull or Aston Martin. The matter will be referred to the FIA Cost Cap Management for decision.
“Further information will be disclosed in compliance with the regulations,” the FIA said in a statement.
The financial rules allow for any combination of six different penalties for groups committing “minor” violations. These are public disciplinary action, deduction of constructors’ or drivers’ championship points, suspension from competition levels (other than races), aerial or other test restrictions or further reduction of investment capital.
Red Bull finished second in the Constructors’ Championship last year, while Aston Martin finished seventh. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has won the drivers’ championship by eight points from Lewis Hamilton.
In a statement, Red Bull said they reacted with “surprise and disappointment” to the FIA’s decision.
“In the year Our 2021 proposal was below the cost cap, so we remain confident that the relevant costs are under the 2021 cost cap, so we must scrutinize the FIA’s findings.
“Despite the assumptions and position of others, there is a process in the regulations with the FIA which we respectfully follow while considering all the options available to us.”
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FIA Statement on Expenditure Limits
The FIA will confirm that the Expenditure Cap Administration has completed its review of the reporting documents submitted by each competitor for the 2021 reporting period ending on 31 December 2021 in the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship.
The FIA Cost Cap administration has awarded certificates of completion to seven of the ten competitors.
Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One team is deemed to be in breach of financial rules; Oracle Red Bull Racing is deemed to be in breach of financial rules due to ongoing and low costs. And Williams Racing has complied with financial regulations for the 2021 reporting period with the exception of a previous breach (management of the spending cap in relation to Williams entering the ABA in May 2022. This breach was rectified by Williams in a timely, cooperative and transparent manner).
The evaluation of the submitted reporting document is a rigorous and thorough process and all competitors have given their full support by providing the necessary information to assess their financial situation in the first year of this financial regulation. The FIA Cost Cap administration recalled that all competitors have acted in a spirit of sincerity and cooperation at all times throughout the process.
The FIA also notes that in relation to the first year of implementation of the Financial Regulations, the intervention of the FIA Cost Cap Administration was limited to evaluating the submissions made by competitors and that no full formal investigation was initiated.
The FIA Cost Cap Administration is currently determining the appropriate action to be taken under the Financial Regulations in respect of Aston Martin and Red Bull and further information will be communicated in compliance with the Regulations.
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