Red Bull F1 budget cap breach: Team reaches breach agreement with FIA as per report

Over the course of the US Grand Prix weekend, Red Bull principal Christian Horner spoke extensively with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem as per the report.

Christian Horner file photo, Image credit: Twitter
By Nilavro Ghosh | Oct 28, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

According to Motorsport.com, the Red Bull Racing Formula One team has concluded its cost-cutting agreement with the FIA, and the outcome is expected to be made public on Friday. The team has reached an Accepted Breach Agreement, which essentially confirms that it accepts any sanctions and acknowledges any wrongdoing. Aston Martin has also agreed to an ABA for its less serious procedural breach, which will be revealed on Friday. The FIA will explain the points of contention for both teams, as well as the penalties. Over the course of the US Grand Prix weekend, Red Bull principal Christian Horner spoke extensively with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, though any such discussions technically fell outside the official legal process.

After the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, negotiations were put on hold, but were completed this week. Red Bull has been found guilty of both a procedural violation and a “minor” overspend of around USD 1.8 million. The team is expected to face both a financial and a sporting penalty. It is expected that the latter will result in a reduction in aero testing beginning in 2023. Under the aero testing restriction regulations, the team will already have less windtunnel time and CFD usage than any of its competitors as constructors’ champion.

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Red Bull’s issues are thought to have included factory catering and feeding employees who were not subject to the cap, sick pay and redundancy issues, and how to deal with leftover spare parts at the end of the 2021 season and their allocation to the heritage department. According to the Motorsport.com report, there may also be a tax issue.

Max Verstappen in a file photo (image:twitter)
Max Verstappen’s 2021 Red Bull in a file photo (image: twitter)

What did Christian Horner say?

“What you have to remember is that the submission can constitute about 75,000 line items,” said team principal Christian Horner when asked by the motorsport news website. “So, there’s an enormous amount of data that has to be inputted into these submissions and I think it’s only natural that, in a first year we have a set of very complicated regulations, to be able to get its arms around everything, is almost impossible. Almost impossible.”

”And interpretations have been made, [that] maybe by other teams have been slightly different, and then a change like that has a huge swing in your application of how you’ve completed your form which, had we been able to resubmit at that point in time, we would have treated very, very differently. So there’s probably several teams that have been affected in that manner,” he added.