Christian Horner insists his Red Bull team has probably not yet suffered the full effect of its penalty for breaching Formula 1’s budget cap rules.
A budget overrun for the 2021 season was first revealed a year ago. The FIA imposed a fine of £6 million for what it described as a “minor” breach of the rules, while the most serious penalty was 10% of the test time in the wind tunnel. removed from the equipment for the next 12 months.
Team principal Horner called the punishment “draconian” at the time and said it would have a huge impact. But while it made a difference, it was barely noticeable in 2023, given that Red Bull won both titles virtually unopposed.
This relief from wind tunnel time is coming to an end, but Horner says the true effect of the penalty will probably only become apparent next season, given that much of his motorsport progression resources, particularly in the last years. months, they have committed to the team’s 2024 machine. Array
“You certainly haven’t noticed the full effect yet because it has clearly compromised the point of progress that we’ve been able to reach this year,” he told reporters.
“Fortunately, we launched a very strong car at the start of the year and we were able to apply the maximum of that progression time early in the season to next year’s car, so that’s important. “
Given this breach of the 2021 season, interest has increased as the FIA has analysed the teams’ accounts from 2022 onwards to determine if the rules would be damaged again. This time, however, all 10 groups played by the rules.
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And that, Horner added, came after an even more rigorous procedure than the one his team had followed the previous year. He said: “I think the load limitation procedure is evolving. It is a very complex set of regulations that have evolved and the degree of control this year has been phenomenal, in terms of the rigor that the FIA has shown – it was a comprehensive review. . colonoscopy that we experienced during the summer.
“I think the FIA is also learning from what it looks like and the regulations have evolved and of course each and every business is also structured differently, which adds to the complexity, whether you have subsidiary accounts or whatever. Your reporting organization is, for example, and 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 compared to what we’ve seen in the last 12 months.
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