Dylan Bettencourt
Formula 1’s governing body has revealed that it had found Red Bull and Aston Martin guilty of breaching the budget cap during Max Verstappen’s maiden title-winning season in 2021.
The budget cap of R2.6 million was introduced during the 2021 season with the FIA confirming Red Bull’s offence was “minor”.
A minor offence means the team exceeded the limit by less than 5% but a percentage cannot put into perspective the ramifications the rule break had.
In the Formula 1 finale, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was on course to winning a record eighth world title in Abu Dhabi when a safety car incident took it from his grasp.
Verstappen took full advantage of the scandalous incident and overtook Hamilton on the final lap to win his first ever world title.
The victory was met with huge backlash criticising the governing body for the role they played, with an internal investigation leading to the sacking of director Michael Masi.
Despite many feeling Verstappen’s triumph was undeserved and would always be remembered as a controversy, the recent findings only add to it.
It is unlikely that Verstappen will have his title stripped, with the punishment set to be a reprimand or a restriction on aerodynamic testing as well as a reduced cost cap in the future, Sky Sports reported.
But what the findings do mean is that Verstappen won his first-ever title in an illegal car, regardless of whether he had a part to play or not.
It will forever remain in the realm of uncertainty whether the Dutch driver would have still emerged victorious if his team had followed the rules.
But as fans may feel robbed of ever knowing how the 2021 season would have ended if Red Bull had not overspent, Hamilton is likely feeling very similar.
Hamilton was well on course to becoming the man with the most world titles in sports history but had it taken from under his nose on the final lap.
And now finding out that the man he lost out to belongs to a team that broke the rules, it has got to hurt that little bit more.
Red Bull however released a statement claiming the team were surprised to have been found guilty.
“Our 2021 submission was below the cost-cap limit, so we need to carefully review the FIA’s findings, as our belief remains that the relevant costs are under the 2021 cost-cap amount.
“Despite the conjecture and positioning of others, there is of course a process under the regulations with the FIA which we will respectfully follow while we consider all the options available to us,” the team said in a statement.
The findings come just one day after Verstappen was crowned Formula 1 champion yet again after claiming victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Pictured above: Max Verstappen
Source: @Formula1
