Red Bull handed £6 million fine for budget cap breach in 2021

Red Bull Racing have been fined £6.05 million for exceeding the budget cap last season. They exceeded the £114m cap by £1.86m as per their reports, and the final decision has now been announced by FIA at the Mexican Grand Prix. 

Alongside the fine, Red Bull have been handed a 10% reduction in wind tunnel time for the next year, which will handicap their aerodynamic testing. 

Red Bull punished for breaching budget cap last season 

The decision made is final and is not subject to appeal, which means that Max Verstappen’s 2021 Driver’s Championship is safe and will not be rescinded. The Dutchman followed up his victory last season by winning this year’s title as well. 

Moreover, Red Bull also won the Constructors’ Championship for the first time since 2013 this year. Their rivals in F1 have called for stricter punishments for breaching the budget cap. But, since the decision is final, it will not be altered. 

“It’s a hit, it’s a handicap,” Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner said. “It gives an advantage to our competitors which is why they were pushing so hard for a draconian penalty. There were other sporting penalties available but this was lobbied for hard by our competitors because it hit us the hardest.”