McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown has voiced his concerns to the FIA regarding the news that Red Bull were found guilty of a “minor” breach in the budget cap which was set at $145m.
Brown’s letter is rumoured to say: “Any team who have overspent have gained an unfair advantage both in the current and following year’s car development.”
”The FIA should communicate subsequent action and penalties at pace to maintain the integrity of F1,” he added.
“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.”
“We suggest that the overspend should be penalised by way of a reduction to the team’s cost cap in the year following the ruling, and the penalty should be equal to the overspend plus a further fine – ie an overspend of $2m in 2021, which is identified in 2022, would result in a $4m deduction in 2023 ($2m to offset the overspend plus $2m fine).
“For context, $2m is (a) 25-50% upgrade to (an) annual car-development budget and hence would have a significant positive and long-lasting benefit.”
The FIA have not yet provided any details of Red Bull’s wrongdoing, while Aston Martin have also been found to have committed a “procedural” breach.
