Red Bull boss Christian Horner has responded to claims that his team breached their budget cap for the 2021 Formula 1 season. Both Red Bull and Aston Martin were rumoured to have exceeded the cap, and, if found guilty, they will both be handed penalties.
Budget caps were introduced last year by F1 bosses, with a £122 million limit imposed - with extra available for sprint races and if the season exceeds 21 races. 2021 was a breakthrough year for Red Bull, securing their first drivers' title in eight years thanks to Max Verstappen.
Verstappen's championship triumph in theory though could well be under threat, if the claims regarding Red Bull's breach are true and severe enough to warrant punishment.
There are a range of sanctions that can be put in place by the FIA, from basic fines, to points deductions, race bans and even a championship suspension.
Horner, however, believes his team will not face any of these punishments when speaking at this week's Singapore Grand Prix.
He told Sky Sports : "I’m not aware of any [breaches]. Accounts were submitted way back in March so it’s been a long process with the FIA. We’re in that process as we speak. They’re rightly following that process and I think next week is when they declare their certificates.
"So, I think… certainly our submission was below the cap and it’s down to the FIA to follow the process, which they’re currently doing.” Horner admitted that it may take some for the new 'complicated' rulings to be fully understood.
"Inevitably, it’s a brand new set of regulations, a set of very complicated regulations," he added. "How rules are interpreted and applied is inevitably going to be subjective between the teams.
“I’m sure, as the years go by, things will get tidied up. We’re confident in our submission and, as I say, the FIA are in a process. There’s always going to be rumours. I’ve heard [rumours] of major breaches but I’m certainly aware of that.”
