Throughout the summer and a little over a week ago, Mattia Binotto, the director of Ferrari had been stirring up trouble in the media by wondering how Red Bull could finance all these developments, let alone the arrival of a lighter frame for the RB18.
The teams, subject to an even more restrictive budget ceiling this year, must also fight against inflation. An additional budget envelope has been granted but this should not make it possible to launch development programs.
Binotto therefore wondered how Red Bull was doing and above all, if the FIA had the means to properly control team spending. We know that Red Bull has several subsidiaries: Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Technology, AlphaTauri and Red Bull Powertrains. From there to suggesting that certain subsidiaries absorb costs on behalf of Red Bull Racing, there is only a small step to take…
As for Mercedes F1, what do we think? It’s a team that also had to spend a lot this year to try to rectify its W13 as well as possible.
“I saw Mattia mention this in the media,” replies Toto Wolff.
« I have no doubts about the new FIA regime: they will police hard and they will police according to what the governance says. The budget cap regulations are as important as the sporting and technical ones, so let’s see what will be the result with the accounts at the end. »
« But if you’re breaking the law then it’s an advantage you’ve gained that needs to be sanctioned. But again, I’m talking about something I’m not involved in. »
« I have confidence at all levels: the people in place to control this, the system, the governance. »
