Vasseur wants strict sanctions for exceeding budget cap

Formula 1's first year of dealing with a budget cap certainly did not go unnoticed. Most notable was the punishment for Red Bull Racing, which was fined $7 million and has to make do with fewer hours in the wind tunnel.

For months, Red Bull's (then potential) punishment occupied minds. Because it all took so long to get clarity, the wildest rumours arose and some team bosses made pithy statements. That should change in the future, thinks Fred Vasseur, Ferrari's new team boss. He thinks the FIA should come to a quicker decision on whether to prosecute and hand out punishment to offenders as soon as possible.

Moreover, says Vasseur vs. Motorsport.com, tougher action is also needed. "OK, perhaps this was the first one, but from now we have to forget about minor and major. Because for me, two or three million, it's not minor, it's mega, for development", Vasseur believes.

All in all, Vasseur does feel that the FIA has acted correctly in handing out penalties this time. By the way, whether the teams have all honoured the budget cap in 2022 will soon be seen. After all, that is when the whole process starts all over again.