the world of Formula 1 A report of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on the Budget limits 2021: Yes, since last season. According to the media, such a claim it would be out this Wednesday although there would be no severe penalties for offenders, among whom they would be Red Bull. However, they later said there will be no news until Monday.
“The FIA informs that the conclusion of the analysis of the 2021 financial statements of the Formula 1 teams and the subsequent publication of the Certificates of Compliance with the Financial Regulations will not take place on Wednesday 5 October. Analyzing financial presentations is a long and complex process that is ongoing and will conclude to allow the release of the Certificates on Monday 10 October “, was the press release issued a few hours after the first deadline for the delivery of documents was respected.
Since last year, F1 has had a spending limit of 145 million euros to promote competition between teams and that there is not so much difference between the most powerful teams and the others, after Mercedes have won the last eight manufacturers’ championships.
But it would not be Mercedes now that is under the magnifying glass, but its rival for the 2021 Drivers’ World Cup. As reported toto wolffthe head of the German team, Red Bull has been investigated for potentially violating spending limit rules.
However, the renowned English half Sky SportNews “You understand that any builder committed only “minor” offenses.which would entail less severe penalties ”.
On its website, the site anticipates the report, which was not released at the time indicated by the FIA, and states that “no Formula 1 team will face severe punishment for violating the budget cap regulations last season because only “minor” infractions were committed. “
As communicated to the accredited press at the Japanese Grand Prix, the FIA would deliver this Wednesday to F1 teams that have complied with the 2021 budget limit regulation “a certificate of conformity”.
Given the delay, several journalists, including Spaniard Albert Fabrega of the DAZN chain and Luke Smith of Auto Sport, reported that there will be no news until Monday, which was then confirmed by the FIA press release. Yes, right after a possible Verstappen coronation.
Two criminals in the crosshairs
Among those who have met the limit it would not be Aston Martin or Red Bullthe one that would have spent the most and whose money would not only have been destined for the development and performance of the 2021 cars but also for this year, in which Max Verstappen dominates the championship and is about to be crowned twice champion.
“Sky Sports News understands that only ‘small’ infringements have been committed to the limit -explains the English vehicle-, which is an excessive expenditure of less than five percent and would result in less severe penalties.
Possible penalties include the deduction of the points of the constructors ‘and drivers’ championship and the suspension from one or more phases of a competition. There may also be limitations on the team’s ability to perform aerodynamic or other tests, or a reduction in the cap on overall costs in the future.
In this way, since no “significant” infringement has been committed, no team would be eliminated from the leaguewhich was a possible punishment.
Did Red Bull break the budget limit?
The rumor came from Italywhere Ferrari are most interested in a penalty dropped on Red Bull to allow the fight between Verstappen and Charles Leclerc for the title to continue beyond the Japanese GP this Sunday.
Italian media reports last week suggested Red Bull may have overspent last season, a claim described by Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. “a secret with rumors”but which Red Bull angrily rejected as “fictional”.
Wolff said minor infractions could allow teams to spend another $ 7 million and that if the penalties are light, all teams would be willing to break the rules in the future. He also noted that the benefits of overspending in one year would potentially increase teams in future years, so it would be worth pushing the rules to the limit.
a long wait
In the Singapore paddock, three weeks after the last Grand Prix, rumors began that Red Bull and Aston Martin had exceeded the budget in 2021.
There it was revealed Mercedes and Ferrari would team up to ask the FIA for exemplary conductthat he should have communicated it a few months ago, and harsh penalties, given that the Englishman lost the crown to Lewis Hamilton in 2021 and the Italians are fighting for the trophy of the current season.
Over the course of 2022, Mattia Binotto, head of Ferrari, repeatedly noted Red Bull’s innovations and warned the press of the budget limit that those improvements would not meet. Then it was the German website Auto Motor Sport that reported that “Red Bull is in sight”.
Will Max Verstappen be able to win the title?
The sanctions listed in the regulation provide for a pecuniary sanction, while the Article 9.1 of the “material sporting sanctions” also lists a “constructors championship points deduction” and a “drivers championship points deduction”. In this sense, last week the British newspaper The Sun indicated that “the most worrying thing for Verstappen is the possibility that the sanctions also include exclusion from the championship”.
“The FIA is currently finalizing the evaluation of the 2021 financial data presented by all the Formula 1 teams. Alleged violations of the Financial Regulation, if any, will be dealt with in accordance with the formal procedure laid down in the Regulation“said an FIA spokesman in Marina Bay, without giving too many specifics.
At the beginning of Singapore GPBoth Red Bull and Aston Martin have denied the rumors. Those led by Christian Horner have said that the suggestion of breaching the cost cap is “pure speculation”. A spokesman for Lawrence Stroll’s team, meanwhile, said: “We have presented our report for 2021, we are in discussion with the FIA and we are awaiting certification”.
Under the rules, violations of up to $ 5 million are considered a “minor rule violation” and could be punishable by a fine. Instead, the German site Car sport – who gave the scoop last week – indicated that “anyone over five million should expect tougher penalties”.
“Maybe a point deduction and subsequent relegation to the world championship. Or you can deduct the amount that was exceeded from the cost limit for the team hit the following year. Mercedes and Ferrari support harsh penalties for not setting a precedent. . According to their calculations, Red Bull has not only crossed the line in 2021, but also this season. “
If it is confirmed that Red Bull has breached the budget cap, Mercedes will be the first to kick out because, since December, the constructors’ world champions have been insisting that Hamilton was robbed of his eighth championship in that controversial final with the premature deployment of the safety car. .
Ferrari would follow, because the additional money could be used not only for that car but also for the development of 2022 who now competes against Charles Leclerc. “How does another team want to know what price we make and what materials we use?”Horner had already complained in conversations with the press.
“The competition from Red Bull also says they calculated that upgrades to the current Red Bull RB18 could not be produced within the allowed budget. For example, Ferrari decided not to use the new underbody in Singapore and Mercedes is holding back. for the same reason and because the latest bookings went to a smaller modification that will debut in Austin, ”Auto Motor Sport said.
Now, the FIA’s resolution – and a possible sanction against Red Bull – will only be known 24 hours after the end of the Japanese GP at Suzuka, where Verstappen could claim his second world title.
Source: Clarin
