Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur says Red Bull’s punishment for breaching F1’s cost cap was too lenient. After all 10 teams submitted their accounts for the 2021 season, it was revealed in autumn 2022 that Red Bull were the only squad to have gone over the $145 million limit imposed on each outfit. This initially put the team $1.8 million over the limit, but after the FIA sought clarity on a tax credit issue and accepted the team’s explanation, the total overspend was around $400,000. As punishment, it was announced in October that Red Bull would be required to pay a $7 million fine and forfeit 10 per cent of their aerodynamic development allowance. Despite their sanction, Red Bull have begun the 2023 in imperious form, winning all three races of the season so far with an RB19 that appears to be the class of the field.
Vasseur slams 'very light' Red Bull penalty
"I am still convinced the penalty was very light," Vasseur told media, including RacingNews365.com . "If you consider that we will improve a bit less than one second over the season in terms of aero, [if] you get a penalty of one tenth of this, it is [equal to] 0.1secs. "And as it is not a linear progression, it is probably less, and as you are allowed to spend this money somewhere else, on weight saving and so on, for me the penalty is marginal. "It should be severe, given the rate of development we are doing this season and when you can spend what you are saving somewhere else. "You have an advantage at the beginning of the season because you spent more the year before. "I don't want to say they didn't do a good job, because they did a very good job on the car. "I am not trying to find an excuse at all, but if you ask me if the penalty is too light, I say yes." Do you agree with Vasseur that Red Bull's penalty was too light? Have your say below!
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