Vasseur calls on FIA: 'Budget cap control must be done faster'

News that Red Bull had broken the 2021 budget cap caused a stir in the paddock last year. Because the FIA ruled that it was a minor offence, the punishment was relatively mild: Red Bull had to pay a fine and was given ten per cent less testing time in the wind tunnel. For more serious offences, the penalty could have risen to a points deduction or disqualification.

What was notable about the whole situation, however, was that it only became known fairly late in the season that Red Bull had not complied with the 2021 rules. By the time the FIA announced its verdict, Max Verstappen had already clinched the 2022 title. At that time, several people within Formula 1 were already noting that such an offence is not limited to the season in which the offence was committed. Because a car always builds on its predecessor, breaking budget rules has an ongoing effect on the development of the car.

'We all know it has to be faster'

Vasseur now confirms this. Next month, teams must submit the 2022 financial paperwork to the FIA. Vasseur hopes that this year the organisation will be a bit quicker with the verification. " Because it was the first season with the new regulations, it was a big challenge for the FIA," Vasseur acknowledges. "But we all know that these investigations have to go faster, because they relate to previous championships and can have consequences for the current and next season. Of course we are preoccupied with this."