The FIA has revealed that Red Bull has been found in ‘minor’ breach of the Formula 1 cost cap, after weeks of speculation from other teams.
According to reports, Red Bull overspent on last season’s $145m cap by less than five percent – however, an exact figure has yet to be revealed by the sport’s governing body.
Red Bull is the only team to have exceeded the cap, as Aston Martin was found to have made a ‘procedural’ error.
F1’s governing FIA says its “Cost Cap Administration is currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken under the financial regulations”, but Sky Sports News has suggested that punishment is likely to be minimal.
In response to the allegations, Red Bull says it has met the findings with “surprise and disappointment”.
“Our 2021 submission was below the cost cap limit,” the team said in a statement on social media.
“So we need to carefully review the FIA’s findings as our belief remains that the relevant costs are under the 2021 cost cap amount.
“Despite the conjecture and positioning of others, there is of course a process under the regulations with the FIA which we will respectfully follow while we consider all the options available to us.”
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 10, 2022
A minor breach of the financial regulations could result in a financial penalty and/or minor sporting penalties – which are listed by the FIA including a deduction of drivers’ and constructors’ championship points and a suspension.
Should there be a reduction made in the team’s point for 2021, this could have an impact on the title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
However, at this point it is understood that more realistic penalties could include, a limitation to conduct aerodynamic testing, and/or a reduction in that team’s future cost cap.
The results were finally published on Monday following a delay as many speculated about which teams had failed to comply and by what extent.
The FIA confirmed that no “full formal investigations” needed to be launched into breaches of this magnitude –Â due to it being the first year of the cost cap.
