FIA, in its bid to level the playing field, introduced the cost cap, a concept started in 2021. Before that, teams spent as much or as little as they wanted. That put teams with lower budgets at a big disadvantage compared to big dogs like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. However, the very first year of enforcing the budget cap hit a roadblock as Red Bull ended up spending more than the stipulated amount. Now, months after FIA meted out the sanctions for the overspending, Christian Horner is accusing rivals with a not-so-subtle reference to Lewis Hamilton & Co for running a much bigger conspiracy behind the scenes.

After the bizarre decision from Michael Masi during the 2021 Abu Dhabi finale tainted Max Verstappen’s maiden title, Red Bull had another conspiracy waiting to unfold itself next year. The ruling body found Red Bull guilty of spending $2.2 million over the assigned budget. Consequentially, they hit them with a $7 million fine and reduced their wind tunnel time by 10% for the next year. The sanctions saw them take some heavy trolling, which he bizarrely blames Hamilton and George Russell for.

In a recent interview with inews.co.uk, Horner felt that things would have turned out differently “if we had a British driver like a certain team in Brackley. We are too easily seen as the bad guys.”

Horner hinted at a behind-the-scenes conspiracy run by rivals to defame his team during the budget cap saga. He said, “It tainted us. These things get used by your rivals. We had one of them contacting our sponsors and partners making suggestions that we would be bringing their brands into disrepute. That was just underhand.”

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After “resentfully” accepting FIA’s sanctions, Horner termed them “draconian”, specifically, the wind tunnel sanctions. However, some felt the Austrian team got away with just a slap on the wrist.

How FIA defended its decision against Christian Horner & Co.

Before the FIA delivered its verdict, teams like McLaren and Mercedes upped their ante against their rivals. They urged the ruling body to hit them with sanctions that would set an example and act as a deterrent for the future. Once they announced the decision, neither side took it too well.

Defending their decision with a released statement, FIA told, “In these circumstances, the Cost Cap Administration offered to RBR an ABA to resolve this matter. That offer was accepted by RBR.”

“Given the limited nature of the Procedural Breach in issue and the fact that the Minor Overspend Breach falls at the lower end of the <5% minor overspend range, and RBR’s willingness to accept the breaches and to cooperate with the Cost Cap Administration.”

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Do you think the Red Bull boss’ excuse for getting a bad reputation is justified? Or is it just another attack on their rivals Mercedes?