Fraud allegation: Red Bull in focus: demands for harsh punishment

A fire letter to the Fia boss and the Formula 1 boss, demands for a tough punishment – and record world champion Lewis Hamilton is concerned about the integrity of the sport.

Instead of preparing for the possible crowning as world designer champion, the new industry leader Red Bull in Austin is the financial focus. The penalty for exceeding the cost limit is still pending – and that fuels the already heated discussion in Texas.

Hamilton calls for the integrity of the sport

“If you go easy on the rules, all the teams will go over it and spend millions more,” Hamilton said. “If there’s just a slap on the finger, that’s obviously not good for the sport.” When they talk about integrity, it’s about “how we navigate core values,” Hamilton said.

According to media reports, Red Bull is negotiating with the world automotive association Fia before the US Grand Prix. This is said to have proposed an agreement to recognize the violation of the rules. Without giving details, the rulers had found that Red Bull “slightly exceeded” the upper limit of 148.6 million US dollars last year and, like Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin racing team, violated the procedural rules.

If Red Bull agrees to the proposed agreement, the team would have to acknowledge the breach of the rules and refrain from appealing. The penalty would also be rather moderate – point deductions are not intended. In terms of sport, everything would remain as it had ended in 2021 with the already controversial final in Abu Dhabi with the world title for Max Verstappen in front of Hamilton.

“We think we’re in line (with the rules),” Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez reiterated in the paddock. Together, the two Red Bull drivers want and can officially end the Mercedes series among the designers this Sunday at the US Grand Prix (9 p.m. CEST/Sky) after eight team titles for the Silver Arrows in a row.

How does the Red Bull team react?

But first, team boss Christian Horner has to clarify the highly explosive issue of cost overruns. He is expected to comment before the race and explain whether Red Bull will agree to the agreement – or not. In a first statement, the racing team of the Austrian multi-billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz was disappointed and surprised by the results of the long-lasting investigation.

It remains to be seen whether giving in will appease the competition. If there is a penalty, it must also take away the incentive to spend two or three million more, emphasized Carlos Sainz from Red Bull rival Ferrari. “Rules are rules and if you don’t stick to them there should be a penalty that really hurts,” said Valtteri Bottas. The current Alfa Romeo driver drove alongside Hamilton for Mercedes last season. In his opinion, the sanction should be “strict and harsh”.

Cost cap was introduced for the 2021 season

According to a BBC report, McLaren CEO Zak Brown even sent a letter to Fia President Mohammed bin Sulayem and Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali to punish Red Bull, which also hit the team on the track. A fine alone is not enough, there are also sporting consequences for the “fraud”.

The cost ceiling was introduced in Formula 1 for the 2021 season to make the racing series more stable in the long term and to reduce the differences between the teams. Originally, $145 million was set as the limit for 2021, but because of the final number of 22 races, it was increased again to $148.6 million. According to media reports, Red Bull is said to have exceeded this by 1.8 million US dollars. “We know what one, two, three million in development can do,” stressed Ferrari driver Sainz.