FIA explains why they think this punishment for Red Bull is appropriate

The FIA has punished Red Bull Racing with less wind tunnel time in 2023 and a fine of no less than seven million dollars. The Austrian racing stable had committed a so-called 'minor offence' and for that, it is now being presented with the bill. The governing body explains why they arrived at this punishment.

In a statement via its own channels, the FIA says: "The Cost Cap Administration considered it appropriate, in these circumstances, to offer to RBR an ABA to resolve this matter on the terms set out below, 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. That offer was accepted by RBR."

No appeal possible

The Austrian racing stable failed to comply with the budget cap on 13 different points. On all these points, Red Bull has admitted that it was at fault. This now definitively ends the case. The case cannot be reopened, it is written.

"The decision of the Cost Cap Administration to enter into the ABA constitutes its final decision resolving this matter and is not subject to appeal. Non-compliance by RBR with any terms of the ABA will result in a further Procedural Breach under Articles 6.30 and 8.2(f) of the Financial Regulations and automatic referral to the Cost Cap Adjudication Panel."

FIA finds Red Bull not fraudulent

What is very important for Red Bull is that the FIA recognises that the team of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez was therefore not intentionally at fault and thus sought to create an advantage. "The Cost Cap Administration recognised that RBR has acted cooperatively throughout the review process and has sought to provide additional information and evidence when requested in a timely manner, that this is the first year of the full application of the Financial Regulations which are a very complex set of rules that competitors were required to adapt to and that there is no accusation or evidence that RBR has sought at any time to act in bad faith, dishonestly or in a fraudulent manner, nor has it wilfully concealed any information from the Cost Cap Administration."