FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 – Dutch Grand Prix – Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands – September 4, 2022 Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner in the pit track during the Pool race via REUTERS/Christian Bruna
SINGAPORE — Red Bull boss Christian Horner was fired on Friday over idle rumors that reported his team spent more than allowed last year and said championship leaders Formula One is confident in their numbers.
However, Mercedes rival Toto Wolff claims that Red Bull has been under investigation for months and that it is an open secret that a team has breached the budget cap.
“Maybe he didn’t talk to his chief financial officer,” the Austrian told Sky Sports TV channel.
Horner told the broadcaster earlier at the Singapore Grand Prix that none of the 10 teams so far have received a certificate of compliance.
“There’s a lot of gossip and gossip and we know where most of those rumors are coming from,” he said, without naming anyone.
“There’s a lot of conjecture about Red Bull but it could also be around four or five teams in the pitlane.”
According to media reports, Red Bull and Aston Martin have exceeded the mandatory $145 million budget cap that applies to each team in 2021.
An Aston Martin spokesman said the team was “in discussions with the FIA and we are awaiting certification (on the data).”
There has been no official confirmation of any breach, with the executive FIA saying it is still evaluating financial data submitted by the teams and will proceed according to the rules.
Horner said the certificate will be issued next Wednesday, although the date has been changed three times.
“They are monitoring their process. Let them do their process and then let’s see what happens. Anything before that is just speculation,” he said.
“This is the first year these regulations have been applied, the accounts were filed in March. Since March, there have been clarifications on certain aspects of what and how things can be filed and these regulations are still very, very immature.
“They (FIA) are taking the time to do the job properly and we have great confidence in the submission we have made. So I won’t listen to too much gossip and rumours. “
FILE – Mercedes GP CEO Toto Wolff. Clive Mason / Getty Images / AFP
Wolff, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton fought Red Bull’s Max Verstappen enters final round of the final race in 2021, says at least two teams are in the spotlight.
“As far as we understand, there is one team that is committing minor, more procedural violations and another that is fundamental and massive,” he said.
“The rumor mill is running from a time when they’re over and they’re pretty much over.”
Formula One introduced a budget cap last year, shrinking it to $140 million this year and $135 million next season, to curb runaway spending by the biggest teams and level the playing field. .
Sanctions can range from fines to exclusion from the championship.
Williams was fined $25,000 this year for breaching due diligence for financial regulations after missing a deadline to file their accounts.
Red Bull was second behind Mercedes in last season’s constructors ranking.
Verstappen could claim his second title this weekend in Singapore.
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