FIA recently delivered the verdict on Red Bull’s 2021 cost cap breach. The team was hit with a financial penalty to the tune of $7 million for overspending by $2.2 million. The biggest blow, however, was the 10% reduction in wind tunnel time. But given how exorbitantly Max Verstappen is getting paid, could he fund the team?

FIA in its report disclosed the actual breach to be just $500,000. It was the failure to disclose the tax receipts that inflated the breach amount. Red Bull team principal held a press conference briefly after the FIA’s sanctions declaration and refused to challenge the decision. He wanted to put the controversy behind them and move on.

Will Max Verstappen fund Red Bull after the cost cap sanctions?

Max Verstappen seems completely unaffected by the controversy. That is at least what we can decipher from the form he is carrying at the moment. Despite facing a newfound challenge from Mercedes in the last two races, the Dutchman came out on top in both US and Mexico. He is clearly enjoying his time at the Milton-Keynes-based team. But will he go as far as funding the team with his own money to keep the dominant run going?

Formula 1 driver turned presenter David Coulthard recently told Channel 4, “Of course, he feels for his team, they’re taking a financial hit. He’s earning significant money, if he feels really bad he can help fund the team for that.” According to Lad Bible, Max’s net worth is estimated to be $200 million. He is certainly capable of funding the team if he wants to.

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Coulthard talked about how every driver who has dominated the sport goes through a phase of criticism. “I think there’s always a background noise in Formula One. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Schumacher era or Hamilton’s and some of his amazing victories, there’s always going to be a little bit of controversy.”

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Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton fans felt Red Bull got away with a slap on the wrist after the FIA made the sanctions public. Christian Horner, however, felt the penalties were too harsh and even went to the extent of calling them “draconian“.

What Christian Horner said about the FIA’s sanctions

According to the FIA, the $7 million fine will have to be paid separately by Red Bull and will not be deducted from their next year’s budget. Horner called the fine “an enormous amount of money,” Jenna Fryer reported.

However, he admitted it was the reduction in the wind tunnel time that will hurt them the most. He said, “The more draconian punishment is the sporting penalty which is a 10% reduction in the use of our wind tunnel. Some people have said that is an insignificant penalty. Let me tell you now, it is an enormous amount & represents anything between 0.25-0.5 sec of lap time.”

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If Horner is right about the magnitude of impact, the wind tunnel penalty will have, Verstappen might find it difficult to defend his title next season. What do you think about the sanctions? Are they too harsh? We think we’ll have to wait until next year to find out. Until then, let’s enjoy what is left of this season.