Horner hits back in the budget cap line

SINGAPORE – Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has hit back at claims his team went over budget last season, saying such allegations are “extremely defamatory”.

The FIA ​​will complete its analysis of all ten teams’ accounts for 2021 next week to determine whether their spending is in line with financial regulations. Last year, regulations set a budget cap of $145 million, although there were ongoing discussions between teams and the governing body as to exactly what types of spending fall under the cap.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the overspending by two teams he didn’t name was an “open secret” in the F1 paddock and a “heavyweight” issue for the sport. When asked about Horner’s claim that Red Bull did not exceed the cap, he continued: “It’s funny that Christian says that because it takes weeks and months for them to be investigated. … We have all been carefully examined and as far as we know there is a team involved [a] minor injury that’s more procedural and another team that’s basically massively over.”

Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies also referenced two teams that had gone over budget, saying: “We take this as something very serious and expect the FIA ​​to handle the situation in an exemplary manner.”

During a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix, Horner said he expected his rivals to retract the statements.

“We were a little surprised by the comments that came from two of our opposing teams yesterday,” said Horner. “The filing between the team and the FIA ​​is confidential. I have no idea what the outcome of our rivals’ filings is like or the accounting treatment or whatnot.

“So I would be curious as to where their source of information for these fictional claims came from. They are extremely defamatory and we take offense at them. One can only assume that this is not coincidental at a point where Max has his first strike at a world championship.

“How on earth do you have this information? Where did you get this knowledge from? The FIA ​​has even stated that they have not even completed their process. So if there isn’t a clear retraction of those statements, we’re going to take it incredibly seriously and when we look at what options are available to us, because it’s totally unacceptable to make comments of the kind that were made yesterday that are Completely defame the team, the brands and even F1.

“I would be curious to know where your source of information came from.”

Horner believes this weekend’s comments were made to divert attention from Max Verstappen’s first attempt to clinch his second title, which is unlikely to happen in Singapore but is possible if Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishes eighth or lower.

“Perhaps people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones when these allegations are made and we are offended and take the comments made very seriously. Is it a coincidence that Max has his first shot at a world title and here we are.” was only talking about cost caps and not the phenomenal performance he had that year.

“I think it’s a sneaky tactic used to distract from what may have been a lack of performance on track this year. And of course, when reference is made to last year, this year, next year, we will take it very seriously. So this is an issue for the FIA ​​to address, but also an issue for Red Bull to consider how we feel about these comments.”

The FIA ​​will on Wednesday issue certificates to teams that have stayed within budget limits after several months of analysis of accounts submitted in March. If the FIA’s audit reveals an overspending, the penalty, which may include disqualification from the championship if the breach is more than five per cent of the cap, will be determined by an independent cost cap judiciary panel.

However, Horner reiterated that the accounts presented by Red Bull in March were within the budget ceiling and said he was still awaiting news from the FIA ​​on whether those figures had been accepted.

“We absolutely 100 percent stand behind the claim that we are below the cap,” he added. “Obviously this submission has to be signed off by your examiners and then it goes through the process with the FIA, a bit like an exam where questions and interpretations are raised and discussed.

“This process is ongoing with the FIA, which has not yet completed its process at this point. I think they made that pretty clear in a statement they made last night. So we are awaiting with interest the final outcome of the process, which will hopefully be in the near future, but we remain absolutely confident that we have absolutely respected the cap.”