The FIA has confirmed that it will delay the publication of Formula 1’s cost cap compliance certificates in 2021 until Monday 10 October, due to the “long and complex process that is underway”.
Following speculation last weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix that two teams – Red Bull and Aston Martin – could have breached the 2021 cost cap, the F1 paddock was eagerly awaiting news from the championship’s governing body. .
The FIA was scheduled to issue the 2021 financial statements this Wednesday, after having carried out a full audit, and would say which teams had remained within the limit of 145 million dollars, and, if they had breached it, what sanction would be imposed. to the structures that would have exceeded it.
“The FIA advises that the conclusion of the analysis of the 2021 financial results of the Formula 1 teams and the subsequent release of the certificates of compliance with the Financial Regulations will not take place on Wednesday 5 October,” the statement read.
“The analysis of the financial presentations is a long and complex process that is ongoing, and will conclude on Monday, October 10, to allow the publication of the certificates.”
The budget cap debate will therefore continue at the Japanese Grand Prix, as both Red Bull and Aston Martin deny breaching the cost cap.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said on Sunday he was “absolutely certain” the team had complied with financial regulations, amid calls from rivals Ferrari and Mercedes for strict penalties in opposite case.
Horner had previously denounced his rivals for making “defamatory” claims on the matter; his Mercedes counterpart, Toto Wolff, dismissed those statements as “noise”.
Having exceeded the budget limit by less than 5% – around 7 million dollars in 2021 – would be considered a minor infraction , with penalties ranging from a warning to deduction of points.
However, if it exceeds 5%, it would be considered a material infraction , which can be sanctioned with exclusion from the championship, deduction of points, reduction of the budget cap for the following year or limitation of aerodynamic tests.
In Wednesday’s statement, the FIA repeated its comment pointing to “significant and unsubstantiated speculation and conjecture” in relation to the budget cap.
“The FIA reiterates that until [the procedure] is finalized, no further information will be provided,” the statement added. “The FIA also reiterates that any suggestion that sensitive information has been disclosed by FIA staff is equally unfounded.”
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