Last Updated: 12/10/22 6:08 AM Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Martin Brundle discusses the cost cap system after it was announced that Red Bull have exceeded the 2021 cap by less than five per cent Martin Brundle discusses the cost cap system after it was announced that Red Bull have exceeded the 2021 cap by less than five per cent Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle believes Red Bull have not committed a “big crime” by breaching the cost cap, but urged the FIA ​​to tighten its “crazy” rules and impose a punishment that will “hurt”. After weeks of speculation, it was finally confirmed on Monday that Red Bull had been found guilty of a “minor” breach of last year’s $145 million budget cap, meaning they have gone over the legal amount by less than five percent. Potential penalties range from financial to sporting and even points, although with Red Bull fiercely contesting the FIA’s verdict – and not considered to be too far over the line – no severe punishment is expected. But Brundle says the rules need to be looked at to discourage breaches in the future, as he weighed in on F1’s Any Driven Monday controversy. “What I find absolutely crazy is that a small offense can be up to five per cent overspend on the cost cap,” said the Sky Sports F1 pundit. “That’s $7 million and we know it’s a massive upgrade to a car, maybe even a B spec for some teams. “Well, that has to be tightened up to begin with, because what’s the point of having $145 million and then having this variation of 5 percent? Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player In a feature completed before Red Bull’s breach of the cost cap was confirmed, Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok looks at how the FIA ​​can effectively control it
In a feature completed before Red Bull’s breach of the cost cap was confirmed, Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok looks at how the FIA ​​can effectively control it “Other teams are saying, ‘this gives you a head start for 2022, the car is carried over to 2023, so that’s a big advantage.’ It has been reported that Red Bull is exceeding the £1.8 million ($2 million) or less budget limit, which debuted in 2021 to level F1 playing fields. “It’s not, it seems, the big crime we’ve been told by other team managers in Singapore,” Brundle said. “Now we are waiting for the news. “I suppose the FIA ​​will have to crack down hard on any minor offences, but it looks like it could be a reprimand or a fine. Will they want to review the points, will it be the manufacturers’ points or the drivers’ points for 2021? “How tough does the FIA ​​want to be on this?”

When and how will Red Bull be punished? | “It must hurt”

The FIA ​​has yet to say when Red Bull’s punishment will be revealed, but the team’s staunch defense on Monday night makes an “acceptable breach of agreement” – where they would agree to a breach with the cost cap and punishment – unlikely. When the penalties are revealed, it may come down to how hard Red Bull want to take their corner. Penalties listed by the FIA ​​for a minor offense include the deduction of driver and manufacturer championship points, which if implemented could have an impact on the contentious 2021 title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, and a suspension. Other, more realistic, penalties could be a reprimand, a fine, a restriction on conducting aerodynamic or other tests, and/or a reduction in that team’s future cost limit. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Red Bull boss Christian Horner says he is “not aware” of any breach of F1’s budget cap during the 2021 season. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff described it as a “heavyweight” issue.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner says he is “not aware” of any breach of F1’s budget cap during the 2021 season. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff described it as a “heavyweight” issue. “It has to be clear that you’re meeting the cost ceiling or just below it or it’s going to hurt,” Brundle insisted. “We’ll see if the FIA ​​wants to come down hard in the first year. But it definitely needs tightening. We need clarity and it needs to be rigid and a five percent deviation is too much.” On the wait for punishment, Brundle added: “It is very disappointing that this information has not been provided. “We are talking about the 2021 season, not this season. Why couldn’t they get to the details… there is probably some controversy behind the scenes to mitigate this to explain and find some rationale. “But it’s totally disappointing that we now have this announcement of what happened, but we don’t know the consequences.”

Has cost controversy hurt F1?

Despite the controversy, Brundle does not believe it has damaged the integrity of the sport. “I think the cost cap system is great, it was the cornerstone of why Formula 1 was better than, in my view, it has ever been. Something that equalizes all these 10 teams is really difficult to do. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Former racing driver Mario Andretti has praised Max Verstappen’s ability after being crowned world champion for a second time and reveals he would definitely like to face him if he was still driving.
Former racing driver Mario Andretti has praised Max Verstappen’s ability after being crowned world champion for a second time and reveals he would definitely like to face him if he was still driving. “I guess there will be a number of areas around entry and exit costs. Stopping teams from spending two and three hundred million has been achieved, but now we have to step up the last few million to make it fair. It’s basically been a success but now it’s about the details. “I think as long as it’s controlled and the penalties are clean and pretty tough [the cost cap works]. I think it’s a bit like a dual diffuser or a floppy front wing, people played that system too. “It’s Formula 1 for you, it’s about reading the regulations once to see what they say and twice to see how you overcome them to try and beat your rivals. “I think it’s a fundamentally good system – in its early stages – and a cornerstone of why Formula 1 is so strong at the moment.”