FIA confirms Red Bull and Aston Martin breaches of cost cap rules

Red Bull and Aston Martin have been found to be in breach of the cost cap rules for the 2021 Formula 1 season, the FIA has confirmed.

Speculation was rife ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix at the start of this month that two teams had overspent in relation to the 2021 budget cap, which had been introduced to try and level the playing field between the teams with big budgets and those with smaller financial clout.

Indeed, it was alleged that the two teams in question were indeed Red Bull and Aston Martin, with the likes of Toto Wolff suggesting that the issue was a ‘heavyweight one’ and that Red Bull were one of those being investigated.

The FIA moved to quash the speculation, noting a high level of ‘conjecture’ around the topic, and they were expected to make a firm announcement on who had done what last Wednesday.

That, of course, got moved to this Monday and it has now been revealed that Red Bull and Aston are in fact the guilty parties, with Red Bull in a minor financial overspend breach and procedural breach, whilst Aston Martin are just in a procedural breach of the 2021 rules.

Back in Singapore, Christian Horner had stoutly denied the rumours Red Bull was over and said that he was ‘absolutely confident’ the team would be within the guidelines of the budget cap.

They have, though, fallen foul of the rules with the FIA confirming a minor overspend breach.

This means less than 5% of the budget cap and can lead to a host of penalties, though the FIA did not reveal any potential punishment – that will seemingly come at a later date – with a statement reading:

“The FIA Cost Cap Administration is currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken under the Financial Regulations with respect to Aston Martin