F1 team Red Bull fined $7M for breaching 2021 cost cap

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Friday ordered Red Bull Racing to pay $7 million for a minor financial breach during the Formula One 2021 season won by their Dutch driver Max Verstappen.

The FIA said the team had exceeded the £114 million ( $132 million) cost cap by £1.86 million ($2.2 million).

"In the summary, it was revealed Red Bull exceeded the 2021 Cost Cap of £118,036,000 by less than 5% (£1,864.000 or 1.6%), which is a minor breach.

"Regarding sanctions, Red Bull must pay $7million to the FIA within 30 days of the date of execution of the ABA (Accepted Breach Agreement)," Formula 1 said in a statement.

"They also receive a minor sporting penalty in the form of 10% reduction in their allocated Restricted Wind Tunnel Testing and Restricted Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) limits," the F1 added.

Red Bull's Verstappen won his maiden F1 title last season, beating Mercedes' British racer Lewis Hamilton in a historic 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which was the final round.

Verstappen has already secured the 2022 Formula 1 title in Japan.

The Red Bull team are now in Mexico City for Sunday's Grand Prix, which is the Round 20 of this season.

This year's 22-round Formula One World Championship will end in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 20.