The FIA has confirmed that Red Bull is the only team not to fall below the cost cap in 2021, finding the team guilty of a “minor overspending”.
Even before the Singapore Grand Prix, there were rumors that Red Bull had passed last year’s cap, but team boss Christian Horner vehemently refuted the claims. Aston Martin was also named as a team in violation and the FIA has now released the findings of its review of the 2021 Financial Regulation, with both Red Bull and Aston Martin being named over various issues.
“The review of the reporting documentation submitted has been an intensive and thorough process and all competitors have given their full support in providing the information required to assess their financial situation during this first year of the Financial Regulation,” said a statement from the FIA. “The FIA Cost Cap Administration notes that all participants have acted at all times in a spirit of good faith and cooperation throughout the process.
“The FIA also notes that with regard to this first year of application of the Financial Regulation, the intervention of the FIA Cost Cap Administration has been limited to reviewing the comments of the competitors and that no full formal investigation has been carried out. has started.
“The FIA Cost Cap Administration is currently in the process of determining the appropriate course of action to be taken under the Financial Regulation in relation to Aston Martin and Red Bull and further information will be communicated in accordance with regulations.”
Nine out of ten teams, including Aston Martin, were under the cost cap, but the procedural violation could still result in a small sporting fine if the FIA believes there are aggravating factors.
Minor spending overruns – which are less than 5% above the cost cap – may result in financial and/or minor sporting penalties, including a public reprimand, deduction of Constructors’ Championship points, deduction of Drivers’ Championship points, suspension of one or more stages of a competition (but not the race itself), restrictions on testing and reduction of the cost cap.
Aside from Red Bull and Aston Martin, Williams was the other team with a procedural violation earlier this year. That had already been rectified before today’s announcement, with the team entering into an Accepted Breach Agreement (ABA) with the FIA over its late filing in March, paying a $25,000 fine.
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