On the Friday that kicked off the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, Red Bull found itself at the center of attention for potential violations of the budget cap rules relating to the 2021 season.
Both Mercedes and Red Bull have said there is no secret in the paddock that two teams have spent more than the $ 145 million limit set for last year and the FIA will release certificates of compliance next Wednesday. stables that have remained below the limit.
Although Toto Wolff and Laurent Mekies talked about the situation in general terms, without specifically blaming Red Bull, their remarks did not go down to Milton Keynes’ team principal.
Speaking in Singapore on Saturday morning an enraged Christian Horner said his team is ready to consider other options if Mercedes and Ferrari don’t back down.
“Unless there is a clear withdrawal of these statements, we will take this incredibly seriously and evaluate the options available to us,” Horner said.
“It is absolutely unacceptable to make comments like those of yesterday that are totally defamatory for the team, for the brands and also for Formula 1”.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Horner then explained that he was particularly perplexed about the provenance of information relating to potential violations of the budget cap rules.
“This is a private communication between the team and the FIA. How can a team know the details of our request? How can a team know if a team is in violation or not?”.
“We don’t even know if we have committed a violation. We will only know next week when the trial is completed.”
Horner said rivals were even “sneaky” in using this story to throw mud at Red Bull in the same weekend that Max Verstappen could clinch his second world title.
“We feel offended, and extremely serious, by the remarks that have been made. It is perhaps a coincidence that Max has the chance to win the world title and that instead we are only talking about budget cap rather than the phenomenal performance he has had. ‘year?”.
“I think it’s a sneaky tactic that has perhaps been used to detract from their lack of performance on the track.”
“It is an issue that must be addressed by the FIA, but also by Red Bull, which must evaluate its position with respect to the comments that have been made.”
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