Red Bull handed $7m fine and wind tunnel penalty in cost cap breach punishment

Red Bull have been handed a $7million fine and restrictions on car development time for breaching last season's Formula 1 cost cap, the FIA have announced.

This follows over two weeks of speculation, and criticism from rivals, for their 'minor' breach of the $145m limit in Max Verstappen's maiden title winning campaign.

Red Bull were given their punishments on Friday at the Mexico City GP after reaching an 'accepted breach agreement' [ABA] with the FIA.

The ABA meant Red Bull had to admit their wrongdoing - with the team $2.2m over the cap - but crucially brought with it an end to an F1 saga and less severe punishments.

"RBR must pay a Financial Penalty of USD 7,000,000 to the FIA within 30 days of the date of execution of the ABA (Article 9.5 of the Financial Regulations).

RBR receives a Minor Sporting Penalty in the form of a limitation of RBR’s ability to conduct aerodynamic Testing during a period of 12 months from the date of execution of the ABA through the application of a reduction of 10% of the Coefficient C used to calculate the individual Restricted Wind Tunnel Testing (RWTT) and Restricted Computational Fluid Dynamics (RCFD) limits applicable to each Team," the statement from the FIA read.

Red Bull have received both a financial and a minor sporting penalty, with a 10 per cent reduction in wind tunnel time for 2023 most damaging.

Red Bull were already set to have less time in their wind tunnel - where F1 teams test and perfect aerodynamics on their car - than their rivals due to winning this year's constructors' championship, which they wrapped up last weekend in the USA to follow up Max Verstappen's second drivers' title.

With their penalty, Red Bull's will have 25 runs in their wind tunnel instead of 28. Ferrari, by reference, will have 30 runs if they finish second in the championship, and Mercedes 32 should they end up third as expected. The constructor in last place has 46 runs in their wind tunnel next season.

Some, though, may still believe Red Bull have got away lightly.

Red Bull were first accused of a minor breach - an overspend of less than five per cent [$7.25m] - of F1's new-for-2021 cost cap on October 10, and had been in discussions with the FIA since that revelation..

The team - amid 'cheating' accusations from McLaren boss Zak Brown and fierce criticism from other rivals - have protested their innocence throughout, and it is understood their initial submission was $4.5m under the limit.

It is believed Red Bull's key reason for being pushed over was unused spare parts for their car, while expenditure such as catering, sick pay and redundancy also played a factor.

$1.7m of their $2.2m overspent is thought to be owing to tax issues.

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The FIA pursued an ABA first as per the financial regulations, and the agreement ruled out the more severe punishments Red Bull could have received for a minor breach, such as points deductions or a reduction of future caps.

In already hugely controversial circumstances, Verstappen only beat Lewis Hamilton by eight points for last year's drivers' crown.

Additional reporting by Sky Sports F1