Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has the belated consequences of the penalty imposed on the team two years ago, pointing to a potential hurdle for next season. Despite dominating the F1 field last year, Horner admits the “full impact” of the penalty remains to be seen.
A year after Red Bull was fined for exceeding F1’s load limit in 2021, Christian Horner has offered an analysis of the lingering effects of the penalty. The £1. 8 million fine and reduced aerodynamic progression allowance, now overdue, have yet to show their full effect. Despite this, Red Bull showed dominance, winning the constructors’ championship with six rounds remaining and taking 19 wins in the last 21 races.
However, Horner stresses that the true extent of the impact of the penalties will only be obvious when the 2024 car takes to the track.
“Certainly the full effect hasn’t been felt yet because it has clearly compromised the point of progression that we have been able to achieve this year,” he admitted.
“Fortunately, we launched a very strong car at the start of the year and were able to apply the maximum of that progression time, early in the season, to next year’s car. So that’s important. “
This strategic change will have consisted of maintaining its competitive functionality next year.
Red Bull’s monetary increase in 2021, a pioneering year for load limits, is a unique case, as all groups will be compliant in 2022. Horner welcomes the FIA’s thorough investigation and recognises the changing nature of the regulations on load limits, highlighting the complexities that arise from the team’s exclusiveness. Corporate design and the demanding situations that lie ahead with the arrival of the Force Unit Progression Load Limit in 2026.
“The fee limitation procedure is evolving,” he continued. “It’s a very complex set that has evolved and the point of scrutiny this year has been phenomenal, in terms of the rigour with which the FIA has applied it. It’s a full colonoscopy that we had over the summer.
He continued:
“The FIA is also theirs and the regulations have evolved.
“Of course, each and every company is also structured differently, which adds to the complexity, whether you have subsidiary accounts or what your dependent organization is, for example, that also has an impact.
“So it’s a very complex set of regulations and I think the FIA has done a pretty decent job from what we’ve seen over the last 12 months.
Although Red Bull has managed to maintain its dominance so far this season, the hidden effect of the cap penalty and the conversion of currency regulations pose a nuanced challenge for the team for next season. But do they still have enough of an edge to dominate next year?While groups make massive leaps between seasons, only time will tell.
Alex is the editor-in-chief of F1. Se fell in love with F1 at the age of 7 after hearing the scream of naturally aspirated V10 engines echoing through his grandparents’ living room. That year, he saw Michael Schumacher take his fifth championship. with Ferrari and hasn’t looked away since.