Did Red Bull really escape a severe penalty as Ferrari claims?
In the search for a more exciting battle between the 10 Formula 1 teams, the financial regulations were created in 2021.
The rules dictate that the teams are only allowed to spend a certain amount per year, with of course some exceptions. In 2021 that started at $145 million, followed by $140 million in 2022, and in 2023 that has decreased to $135 million, plus an increase of $1.2 million owing to additional races.
The teams will submit their figures for each season at the start of the year for the previous season, after which the FIA will audit the teams accounts. In 2022 this came in October, when the results showed that Red Bull had went over the cost cap and committed a minor breach.
A penalty followed: a seven million dollar fine and a 10% reduction in aero development time (wind tunnel and simulations) for one year.
Both the former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto and now his successor Fred Vasseur have reached the same verdict on Red Bull's punishment: That the ...