Christian Horner suggested those who think Red Bull were let off lightly by the FIA for their cost cap breach "don't know what they are talking about".
The team principal was in a combative mood as he faced journalists after the details of their overspend were published for the first time. The FIA revealed Red Bull had gone over the cap by 1.6% in 2021 – £1.86m – but also made it clear that a tax credit would have brought that down to 0.37%, or £432k.
For that breach, they were slapped with a £6m fine and a 10% reduction in aero testing time over the next 12 months. That sporting penalty is likely to have a significant impact on their car development, but not everyone believes it is enough of a punishment.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown is someone who holds that opinion. "I'm pleased the truth is out there now and it is the result is as we expected — there was a breach of the cost cap by one team, with the other nine operating in line with the rules," said the American.
"It is therefore only right that punitive action is taken. If the FIA is to be most effective and its punishments serve as a lesson to others when rules are broken in this way, the sanctions have to be much stronger in the future.
"We hope that the lessons learned through this process will now mean all teams have a clear understanding of the rules in order to avoid any future breaches. While we are pleased to see them act, we would hope the FIA take stronger action in future against those that wilfully break the rules."
Asked by Mirror Sport in that press conference for his thoughts on whether he feels the penalty will dissuade others from breaking cost cap rules in the future, Horner made it very clear where his thoughts lie. "I think the punishment the FIA has come up with is actually a strong deterrent," said the Red Bull chief.
"I think, for a 0.37% overspend, to get charged $7m and lose 10% of your wind tunnel time is massive. It is a strong deterrent for the future, so anyone who diminishes that penalty doesn't know what they're talking about."
Meanwhile, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff appeared to be satisfied with the penalty when asked for his thoughts. "Beyond the sporting penalty and fine, there is also reputational damage," observed the Austrian. "Whatever team you are, you're responsible for representing a brand, your employees and your partners, and that's why for us [breaching the cost cap] wouldn't be [something they would do]."
