FIA backed at Red Bull penalty: 'Every team boss will be determined'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Mika Hakkinen looks on with satisfaction at the punishment imposed by the FIA on Red Bull Racing for exceeding the budget ceiling. The former Formula 1 driver is convinced it will by no means entice other teams to do the same, he states in his column on Unibet.
The Austrian racing stable will be fined seven million dollars, while it will also be allowed to spend 10 per cent less time in the wind tunnel. However, a third component should also deter other formations in the future, Hakkinen argues.
"Red Bull’s penalty for the minor overspend is still significant," he notes. "Far more than the financial or aerodynamic penalty, it has been an uncomfortable experience for the team. The good thing is that no team will want to risk repeating this next year."
"Although it has been a very difficult and controversial moment for Red Bull, I believe it will benefit F1 in the long term because every team boss will be determined not to have this kind of negative publicity in future."
Binotto disagrees with Red Bull's punishment
By no means everyone agrees. For example, Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto indicated as recently as last weekend at the Mexican Grand Prix that the overshoot may have created a major sporting advantage for Red Bull. He, therefore, favoured a heavier penalty.