McLaren's Zak Brown says Red Bull budget breach 'constitutes cheating' and calls for 'sporting penalty'

McLaren boss Zak Brown has said Red Bull’s budget breach “constitutes cheating” and has called for the FIA to issue a “sporting penalty”. It was ruled last week that Red Bull committed a «minor» breach of the F1 budget cap in the 2021 season. A minor overspend means exceeding the budget by less than 5%.

Ad Red Bull, along with Aston Martin, were also found to have committed a procedural breach — failing to fill in forms correctly. Formula 1'Surprise and disappointment' — Red Bull hit back after budget bombshell10/10/2022 AT 16:13 Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has yet to decide on a punishment. The BBC report that they have seen a letter from Brown to the FIA which says: “The overspend breach, and possibly the procedural breaches, constitute cheating by offering a significant advantage across technical, sporting and financial regulations.

«The FIA has run an extremely thorough, collaborative and open process. We have even been given a one-year dress rehearsal (in 2020), with ample opportunity to seek any clarification if details were unclear. So, there is no reason for any team to now say they are surprised.

»The bottom line is any team who has overspent has gained an unfair advantage both in the current and following year's car development. 'Suprised' Red Bull hit back at budget breach ruling Ricciardo confident he can still succeed in F1 «We don't feel a financial penalty alone would be a suitable penalty for an overspend breach or a serious procedural breach. There clearly needs to be a sporting penalty in these instances, as determined by the FIA.