Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has not benefited from going over Formula 1’s budget cap either last year or next season.
The FIA announced last week that Red Bull did not meet the $145 million spending limit in the first year of the 2021 budget cap. The sport’s governing body accused him of “minor” overspending, which is up to 5% of the legal limit, or $7.25m.
However, Horner indicated that the sum involved in the main body of the dispute was significantly lower.
“I think the 5% window is part of the regulations that can be seen,” he said. Because the types of punishment are again completely personal.
Possible sanctions for “minor” rule violations include fines, reduced Red Bull futures, and point deductions.
“I think at the end of the day this is what has led to a concerted campaign to impose a heavy penalty on Red Bull, probably a hundred thousand dollars that we’re talking about arguing with the FIA,” Horner said.
While rival teams say any gains Red Bull made last year will continue in future seasons, Horner says they have not “absolutely” benefited from overspending.
“We have to look at what are the relevant costs and what are the relevant costs in capital and what is out of capital,” he said. “And that’s where the meaning comes from. Our view is that the relevant costs are in the capital. We are now obviously discussing with the FIA what those costs are and what are the potential mitigations and so on.
We had zero leverage for 2021 or 2022 from a development perspective or an operational perspective. Our delivery was below the cap.
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We expected that some things might be argued or clarified as the process in the new bylaws. But in external, professional accounting, the 50 page document rules of third parties gave this interpretation to the police was very clear on our side. So in 2021 or 2022 or 23 or 24 or some groups are talking about 26, we don’t feel completely and utterly that we have any leverage.
Horner said there was no indication from the FIA of any concerns about his submission until last month. “We put in a provisional in 2021,” he explained. “There was no suggestion or suggestion that we were doing anything against any regulations.
“Actually, the submission in March, we didn’t hear anything from that submission until around September. So it’s a very important time.
He pointed out that “FIA is also in the rules to lead, to be effectively compliant.”
Horner met with FIA president Mohamed Ben Suleiman yesterday and is hopeful that they are moving towards a negotiated solution.
“We are in the process with the FIA,” he said. “We hope to close on that and then all the facts will be on the table and we can have a clear discussion about the capital and why we feel our spending is fully prepared,” he said.
“They are trying hard to do their job and hopefully we will get a solution soon,” he added.
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