Horner responds after expired budget cap penalty: 'Complex set of rules'

A few days ago, Red Bull Racing's punishment for exceeding its budget cap expired. Because the Austrian racing stable went over the allowed limit in 2021, the team of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez had to sit on the sack. Team boss Christian Horner reacts to the possible effects the penalty has had on the team.

"You've not seen the full impact yet because it obviously has compromised the amount of development that we've been able to do this year and we've had to apply. Thankfully, we came out with a very strong car at the beginning of the year and we've been able to apply most of that development time from quite early in the season to next year's car," said the Red Bull team boss.

What does Horner think of the budget cap?

"I think the cost cap process is evolving," the British team boss continued. "It's a very complex set of regulations that have evolved and the degree of scrutiny this year was phenomenal in terms of the rigour that the FIA went to. It was a full colonoscopy that we experienced during the summer," he concludes.

One year Red Bull was allowed to spend ten per cent less time in the wind tunnel. The Austrian constructor was already 'punished', as they captured the constructors' championship title, meaning you had less wind tunnel time anyway. This rule exists to keep things as fair as possible in Formula 1.