Statement | FIA should set example for future with Red Bull

Red Bull Racing faces a severe penalty for exceeding the budget cap. As the rules have only been in place for a short time, the Austrian racing team cannot draw comparisons with previous times. And that could just cause a double whammy.

By setting a cap, the FIA hoped to ensure that Formula 1 costs would not skyrocket in future. Although Red Bull believes it simply complied with the rules, the organisation is convinced that the racing stable deserves a penalty.

Ferrari and Mercedes, among others, will be watching the situation with interest. Not only could a penalty ensure that both teams potentially have an advantage over their rivals next season, it could also give them the opportunity in the future to also fail to comply with the regulations.

Indeed, if the FIA chooses to hand out 'only' a fine, it may be interesting to collect it from now on, but thereby get more performance out of the car. It is therefore up to the FIA to clarify this.

Formula 1 teams have shown on several occasions in the past that they are eager to push the limits of the rules in order to gain a competitive advantage. It, therefore, seems an important task for the FIA not to give them too much leeway.

Therefore, it should be clear that the organisation cannot do anything but properly deter Red Bull, and thus the other teams, with a penalty. It matters little then what that penalty will be: as long as the message is clear.