Mattia Binotto on ‘insignificant’ Red Bull penalty: “It does not compensate for advantage gained”. Mattia Binotto on 'insignificant' Red Bull penalty.

“Red Bull in 2021 was the only illegal team when it comes to the budget cap rules, for about two million, this is a figure which no one can deny and it is significant”. Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, was interviewed by Sky Sport F1 Italy at the end of the qualifying session of the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix and was also asked about the Accepted Breach Agreement between Red Bull and the FIA for breach of the 2021 budget cap rule. According to the three-party accepted breach agreement, Red Bull will have to pay $ 7 million to the Federation and will have 10% less in terms of hours available in the wind tunnel to develop the 2023 project.

A penalty defined as “insignificant” by Mattia Binotto: “Two million is a couple of tenths per lap that changed the fate of the last championship. It is an important, significant advantage and the FIA should have been strict about this. The penalty given does not cover or compensate for the advantage received by Red Bull, because apart from the fact that once a fine is paid it is immediately forgotten, the fewer hours in the wind tunnel are not accompanied by a reduction in the budget cap. 2023 will allow Red Bull to allocate the money that will not be spent in the wind tunnel in other areas such as weight or suspension” – the Ferrari team principal explained.

Christian Horner quantified the loss of performance awaiting Red Bull in half a second due to fewer hours in the wind tunnel, but Mattia Binotto absolutely disagrees: “The 2-5 tenths lost are not likely. Horner just plays his role in this. The penalty is insignificant. However, after this sentence we absolutely do not want to go beyond the budget cap rule and remain legal because the credibility of the championship is at stake. I hope everyone does the same. The financial accounts for 2022 must be closed in March and not in October, now we all have a year behind us and we have last year’s experience, including Red Bull, so there is no reason not to speed up the times.” – Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto concluded.

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