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McLaren CEO Zak Brown has written a letter to the FIA to state that Red Bull’s breach of the budget cap regulations in 2021 “constitutes cheating”. In a major development, the team’s racing chief has called for heavy punishment to be handed down to Max Verstappen’s team after they won the Drivers’ Championship last season, both in financial and sporting terms.
The American supremo has risked the wrath of his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner after sending a letter to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, as well as being copied to F1 president Stefano Domenicali, demanding heavy penalties be handed down to the Constructors’ Championship leaders.
According to reports, the letter was sent to FIA officials on Monday and also to the teams that, in addition to McLaren, have not been found to have committed any breaches of the cost cap. That includes Ferrari, Mercedes, Alpine, Alfa Romeo and Haas.
And according to BBC Sport, in the letter Brown reportedly asked for the FIA to “communicate subsequent action and penalties at pace to maintain the integrity of F1” for “any team who have overspent have gained an unfair advantage both in the current and following year’s car development.”
READ MORE: Sainz surprised at Red Bull spending amid budget cap controversy
The news will come as a huge blow to Red Bull, who have consistently said that their breach was only a “minor” infraction and were adamant that their punishment would only result in a financial penalty.
Pressure from the other six teams may force the FIA into making an example of Red Bull after breaching the budget cap in the first season it came into effect.
It is yet to be determined whether the FIA could strip Red Bull of points in the 2021 Drivers’ or Constructors’ Championships, but doing so would put Max Verstappen’s maiden triumph last season in jeopardy. The FIA have also provided no clarity on whether there were any negotiations between the two parties to settle the matter.
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