F1 boss on budget cap penalty for Red Bull: "We must trust the FIA"

Stefano Domenicali argues that we should trust the FIA in the penalties they imposed on Red Bull Racing for exceeding the budget cap in 2021. Because the budget cap is completely new, there is no manual on how to act when breaching the financial regulations. Domenicali, CEO of Liberty Media, tells La Gazzetta Dello Sport that it is simply a very complicated situation.

"Let's take a step back. With the introduction of the budget cap, Formula 1 faced a positive, yet groundbreaking change," Domenicali said, arguing that having a budget cap was necessary to remain viable with the king class of motorsport. However, with the arrival of financial regulations, a lot changed.

Advent of budget cap very drastic

Until 2020, Formula 1 only had technical and sporting regulations, but a financial aspect has now been added. "It is not easy to introduce a financial variable. So it was important for the FIA to organise a structure, which had to be built completely from 'scratch'. Economically, the teams were used to spending everything they had."

Red Bull breached the budget cap in 2021 by just over a million dollars. For this, the Austrian formation was eventually fined seven million dollars (which, incidentally, will not come off the 2023 budget ceiling) and ten per cent less wind tunnel time next season. Red Bull finds the punishment extremely heavy, competitors think the team of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez will get away with it just fine. Domenicali added: "We have to trust the FIA and hope that its decision, with the penalty for Red Bull, is right."

Praise for Ben Sulayem and FIA

Despite there having been quite a lot of criticism of the 'new' FIA led by president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in 2022, Domenicali is very positive about the changes made recently. "I am a bit outside the fight and political tactics of the teams. The FIA, which is strong in controlling regulations, is restructuring and repackaging itself well. The system has to have 100 per cent credibility and for that, it needs the contribution of all stakeholders: F1, FIA, teams, manufacturers, organisers. We are in good health, but it takes little to take steps back."