Red Bull Could Have Avoided $2.2 Million Budget Cap Scandal Back Had They Followed the F1 Pack

Despite winning 2 consecutive titles, Red Bull has not enjoyed a stress-free period with controversies galore. After the Abu Dhabi 2021 saga, the team encountered another backlash amid the cost cap breach revelations. While the FIA has penalized the Milton Keynes team in a transparent breach agreement, many still feel RBR may not be as affected. Regardless, Formula 1’s chief technical officer, Pat Symonds, revealed how Red Bull had the chance to avoid this scandal altogether if they followed the F1 pack.

Speaking exclusively to Total-Motorsport.com, Symonds mentioned how every team had the chance to do a “dry run” for the budget cap regulations. In this dry run process, Red Bull opted to stay out and not do it. Pat cited that if the Austrian team had conducted the dry run, they may not have made the $2.2 million overspend breach.

He said, “Red Bull got a few things wrong, but every team was given the opportunity to do a dry run. Red Bull chose not to, and that’s probably why they made mistakes.” Symonds further stated how Red Bull will feel the impact of the cost cap breach penalty sooner or later.

He cited how it is difficult to calculate the impact of the penalty. Still, RBR will feel the impact either on their 2023 car or their 2024 car development. Given how late the FIA announced the penalty in late 2022, Red Bull’s 2024 car may most likely feel the impact of the reduced aero testing time.

Read More: Already Down Bad, Red Bull Hit With $6 Million Check Ahead of Important 2023 Season

According to the FIA’s Accepted breach agreement (ABA) with the Milton Keynes team, the cost cap breach penalty was set at $7 million. Besides, the team will also have a 10% reduction in aerodynamic testing time for a year. Meanwhile, rival teams have echoed the question of whether a stricter penalty was required or not.

Has the FIA penalized Red Bull Adequately for the Cost Cap Breach?

The cost cap saga has been a hot topic of debate in the F1 community. Especially after the penalty revelation from the FIA, many have debated over whether Red Bull’s penalty is adequate or not. Considering this is a precedent for the financial regulations, it was crucial for the FIA to set an example.

Looking at the nature of Red Bull’s punishment, the financial penalty is a drop in the ocean. $7 million for a top team like Red Bull is probably affordable. On top of it, this penalty is not coming out of the team’s 2023 budget. Therefore, it may not make as much of an impact. Although, the reason it is not a reduction of the future budget cap is Red Bull doing an ABA. As per The Race, if their case would have gone to the cost cap panel, this was possible.

But, the major debate is on whether a 10% reduction in the aero testing time is enough or not. While some teams and experts have cited that this percentage could have been higher. Many also suggested that RBR may consolidate the loss of performance with his handicap as well.

Thus, some had called for a points deduction from the team’s points tally from 2021. Now, in such a scenario, usually, the FIA may deduct or disqualify the constructors’ points. There is a provision for driver’s points deduction as well. But in 2007, McLaren lost only their constructors’ points in the light of the “Spygate” scandal. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso retained their drivers’ championship tallies.

Though in Red Bull’s case, this punishment possibility did not get explored. Because the team entered into an ABA, the FIA did not resort to a points deduction. The reduction of future cost cap and deduction of past points tallies can happen if the case goes to the cost cap panel.

While the FIA also expressed how it was a minor breach due to catering and tax-related issues, the breach did not have a direct impact on any car development. So, they finalized the aero testing reduction and the financial penalty worth $7 million.

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Regardless, now it is up to the FIA and the teams to ensure that such breaches do not happen in the future. And even if they do, the FIA needs to speed up its process of analyzing if there is a breach. Or else this delayed penalty unnecessarily may have an impact a year later than expected. Do you think Red Bull’s cost cap breach penalty was adequate?