With a dark cloud already hanging over the FIA’s handling of the budget cap fiasco, it now seems that fans will have a wait a little bit longer for the verdict.
Many expected team principal Christian Horner to outline the conclusion of the team’s discussions with the FIA at a press conference this weekend, however, Red Bull have now cancelled the aforementioned conference.
Horner has been spotted speaking with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and secretary general Shaila-Ann Rao, but instead of addressing the media after this meeting, he made his way to another meeting on his busy agenda.
Dr Helmut Marko was asked by Sky Deutschland about the cancelled conference and he insists that the delay is nothing to worry about.
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“This has been going on for a few weeks so a few more hours will not matter,” he insisted.
The Milton Keynes based team are in ‘negotiations’ with the FIA over the punishment for their ‘minor’ breach of the 2021 budget cap.
The FIA has reportedly decided on the appropriate penalty for the breach and it is now up to Horner and the team to accept the FIA’s terms, or negotiate a different punishment with an adjudication panel.
“I can’t say anything about it.
“We are dependent on the FIA and waiting for feedback,” continued Marko.
The 79-year-old has also addressed the scathing comments from other teams in the paddock with regards to their ‘cheating’, claiming he understands why they appear so irate.
“It came from the competitors,” he said, when asked about the accusations.
“Winning doesn’t make you many friends and some think they’re gaining an advantage by doing this, but they’re not thinking outside the box.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently penned a letter to the FIA claiming that even a small breach of the budget cap is serious cheating, and that any team in breach should be punished accordingly.
The American has called for the definition of a ‘minor’ breach to be reduced, putting Red Bull in the ‘major’ category.
Brown believes this is the only way to keep the sport fair, and keep the regulations respected.
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With the threshold currently as high as it is, Brown can see this being manipulated in the future, with the punishments for a minor breach, such as a fine, almost being worth going over the cap.
His thoughts have been echoed by Mercedes team principle Toto Wolff, who insists that his team will not hesitate to overspend next year to get back to the top, taking the fine as collateral damage.
It remains to be seen when Red Bull will announce their decision, with many anticipating a statement this weekend, from the Circuit of the Americas.