Max Verstappen has hit back at Mercedes and Ferrari after claims Red Bull have broken F1’s budget cap rules. Verstappen demanded rival teams “keep their mouth shut” over the issue after the allegations surfaced at the Singapore Grand Prix.
German newspaper Auto Motor und Sport had claimed Red Bull were around £9million ($10mil) over last season’s budget cap. This would put the team over the five per cent required for the FIA to consider the issue a minor violation.
It means Red Bull could face strict sanctions, including the loss of world championship points if the reports are proven to be true by the FIA’s investigation. Ferrari have called for Red Bull to face severe punishments for breaking the rules.
Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff claimed other teams would be at a “massive disadvantage” if the claims were true.
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton replies to accusations against ‘rule breakers’ Red Bull
His backlash comes after Red Bull team principal Christian Horner also launched a scathing attack on rival teams, claiming the remarks were “bang out of order”. Horner also claimed the remarks were “defamatory” and questioned how teams knew the private details of their finances.
He added: “What is totally unacceptable is for teams that are not party to any form of the submission to be making claims about our submission, about perspective penalties. It’s just bang out of order. Perhaps, when these accusations are made, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
“I think it’s an underhand tactic deployed to detract from perhaps a lack of performance on track this year. And, of course, when references are made to last year, this year, next year, we’re going to take this extremely seriously.”
The FIA has confirmed they are currently assessing the teams’ financial data and any breaches will be dealt with “according to the formal process set out in the regulations”.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
