By Joe Murphy
Fans of Red Bull may want to look away now as Christian Horner himself has had his say on the recent punishment for cost cap regulations breaches. They may have lost their best chance at any future titles the team hoped to be winning over the next few years. 10% reduction in the wind tunnel could have disastrous consequences. Hence the team principal described the ruling as “Draconian”.
Still in denial his team did anything wrong, they were hit with some procedures for their wrongdoings after a full investigation. Whereas some feared/hoped that the discipline would be retrospective, it appears as though they will actually affect the constructor going forward, instead.
Christian Horner said the new limits on what they can do for next year could cost them up to half a second a lap, with it being more like three tenths around the majority of circuits. This in a huge problem for a team who just ended a nine year title drought. Ferrari are set to improve and so are Mercedes. Therefore, whilst Max’s 2021 win is safe as houses, any future success could be in jeopardy.
In reality, the punishment was never going to be retrospective. It just wasn’t. However, the governing bodies of Formula 1 had to set an example, with Aston Martin and McLaren also recently punished in strong ways.
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