Crying Christian Horner Given Brutal Slap of Reality Over Red Bull Failure: “We Called It a Budget”

Red Bull unquestionably dominated the entire 2022 season. When it comes to Max Verstappen, he just nailed the competition. Both of the team’s drivers concluded the season in the top three positions. However, whenever the Austrian team reflects on the season, the Budget cap drama certainly comes back to haunt them. After numerous F1 analysts, rivals, and former F1 champions shared their thoughts, a Formula 1 invertor has now given his opinion. The enigmatic individual has no sympathy for the team.

Red Bull was fined $7 million and had their wind tunnel time reduced by 10% for the next year after being found guilty of exceeding the $145 million cost cap during the 2021 season. The Red Bull boss, Christian Horner, called the punishment “draconian,” but added that his organization had “reluctantly” complied with the FIA’s ruling for the sake of the sport.

In an effort to increase the spending limit, Christian Horner has asked for adjustments to the cost cap. In addition, he has also frequently highlighted fears about how accident damage would affect the team’s capacity for growth.

Pat Symonds, who is currently F1’s technical director, recalls that budget management is one of the duties that must be completed in the business of racing. As per Nextgen Auto, Symonds said, “I spent 42 years as an inventor in Formula 1. I always had a cost cap, we called it a budget. And that was the amount we were allowed to spend.

Pointing fingers at the Austrian outfit, the Director said, “When I hear some people complain and say ‘oh, we had an accident, so we need more money’, well I’ve had accidents too. And I remember a year when we had a very, very good development program.”

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Although the squad may have finished the year as the double champion, the penalty must be affecting the team’s morale. And a Red Bull team member explained this while we’re all clueless about how a champion team will handle such situations and what measures they will take.

Red Bull’s chief engineer outlines how penalties have an impact on them

The Milton Keynes-based team now only has 202 wind tunnel tests available due to the FIA’s punishment, compared to Ferrari’s 240 and Mercedes’ 256. In the next year, the budget cap will be further decreased, reaching $135 million in 2023. Red Bull engineer Paul Monaghan tells motorsports.com how the Austrian team will be able to stay strong when they are up against the top 2.

He said, “It’s changed the discipline. Before we could look at aspects that might have been bigger changes and cost us more money, and we were in an enormously privileged position to be able to consider doing it. That’s changed tack a little bit. So our engineering discipline has changed to adapt to those rules. What we’ve taken on in previous years, we just can’t take on now.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Christian Horner Unhappy with 2022 Budget Cap, Calls for Urgent Attention

Despite the challenges ahead, many believe that Red Bull will still be able to put up a great fight against Mercedes and Ferrari. In light of this, do you believe Red Bull can usher in another period of dominance?