Red Bull to pay the price of cost cap break
Horner reckons it’s draconian, rival teams say it’s too little. Either way there will be knock-on effects from the breach
Christian Horner thinks the Red Bull penalty is too harsh
DPPI
During the US Grand Prix weekend Red Bull’s breach of the 2021 cost cap was confirmed as was a $7m (£6m) fine and a reduction in its aero simulation of 10%. The team was found to have exceeded the $145m cap by $2.15m but had the team submitted its over-payment of corporation tax (which it would have been permitted to do) the breach would have actually been $436,000 (0.37% of the cap).
Red Bull boss Christian Horner called the penalty “draconian” while rivals Mercedes and Ferrari suggested it was too light.
“That [aero restriction] represents anywhere between a quarter and half a second’s worth of lap time,” claimed Horner. “That comes in from now and has a direct effect on next year’s car and it will be in place for a 12-month period.”
The reduction in aero simulation (wind tunnel and CFD) is in addition to the standard reverse sliding scale of tunnel time/CFD simulation based upon position in the constructors’ championship.
“It means we will have 15% less wind tunnel time than the second-placed team in the constructors’ championship,” said Horner, “and 20% less than the third-placed team. So that 10% put into reality will have impact on our ability to perform on track next year.”
Toto Wolff, says it’s too light. Rivals disagreeing. Who’d have thought it?
“I think as for any penalty, for us, it’s too little,” said Mercedes’ Toto Wolff. “For them, it will be too much. I think any reduction in wind tunnel time is going to be detrimental. How detrimental is difficult to judge at this stage.”
Speaking to Sky later, Wolff added: “I think the most important thing for me is there is a robust governance [from the FIA]. They just followed the process… and it is good to see that there is a penalty, high or low.”