The bomb was triggered and exploded in the Singapore paddock. The FIA, after the press previews that indicated two F1 teams that did not respect the budget cap, issued a statement to clarify “… that it is 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 according to the formal process established by the rules “.
The two teams under the lens are Red Bull and Aston Martin: the first for a violation that would go beyond 5%, while the second seems suspected of an overrun that will be remedied with an economic sanction.
The FIA on 5 October will publish data on the 2021 season and will issue certificates of compliance to teams that have been below the spending limits, while the others will have to serve a sentence. The rumors have sparked an uproar in the Circus which is in full boil.
Toto Wolff went on the Red Bull attack contesting not only the financial outcomes of the 2021 season, but also including 2022 and next year: “If last year they worked in certain ways that they have maintained, it is evident that they have not respected the constraints this year and almost certainly also in the next given that the 2023 projects are very advanced “.
The trip of the Mercedes team principal, however, does not seem to have made Christian Horner waver who, at least apparently, does not seem too agitated …
“I’m certainly not aware of any violations – explains the Red Bull boss -. The accounts were all presented in March. So there was a long procedure with the FIA, going through it, and as we speak we are still in the final stage of that procedure. “
“A process is underway and I think in the middle of next week it will be known who will return a certificate of conformity. I think our certification accredited that we were below the limit. But it is up to the FIA, of course, to close the process, which they are doing ”.
Horner, however, made no secret that during the reporting of expenses different interpretations emerged from what is written in the financial regulation …
“This is the first time that the budget cap has been applied. We have gone through a similar process to what is checked by an audit, although it is slightly different for F1. We have been asked for clarifications, even after they were presented. our observations. It emerges, therefore, how immature this regulation is, although the FIA has worked hard and at its best “.
Christian is not surprised that problems may have emerged …
“We have brand new rules that need to be interpreted or applied subjectively between teams. I’m sure things will work out over the years. I’ve heard about serious violations and so on, but I’m certainly not aware of them. “.
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