Red Bull ‘change press conference plans’ amid cost cap breach saga

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Red Bull have changed plans to hold a press conference before the United States Grand Prix weekend as the team mulls over an offer from the FIA. The Milton Keynes-based manufacturer have been offered the chance to accept terms for their punishment after exceeding the budget cap for the 2021 season as the saga continues to rumble on.

It was announced late on Thursday after the teams had finished their media day at the Circuit of the Americas that Red Bull would be holding their own press conference, sparking speculation that the team were set to reveal the outcome of their cost cap breach talks with the FIA.

The highly-anticipated event had been planned for 7am local time, according to Sky Sports F1 presenter Simon Lazenby, which would have been 1am (BST) due to the six-hour time difference between Austin, Texas and the UK.

However, the team have now decided to abort plans to hold the news conference after it emerged team principal Christian Horner could not track down FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem for a meeting prior to the event to discuss matters, according to De Telegraaf’s Erik van Haren.

Negotiations have been ongoing for several weeks between the FIA and Red Bull as to how to proceed after their financial audit revealed the team had incurred a ‘minor breach’ of the £114million budget cap last season.

But Red Bull’s frustration with the lack of clarity from the sport’s governing body has caused some friction in communications, as the F1 constructor believe their breach is actually a misinterpretation and that they stayed within the budget laid out.

It is believed Horner was keen to clarify those points with Ben Sulayem before making a public announcement about their next move, although it is unclear whether Red Bull would have agreed with the terms of the FIA’s ‘Accepted Breach Agreement’, which they are permitted to offer under the current rules.

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The ABA would have seen Red Bull agree that they committed the breach and the details of their punishment made public in return for perhaps more lenient punishment. The other option remains going to an adjudication panel, of which the proceedings are likely to be kept private.

There is still no confirmation or clarity from the FIA on which punishment could await Red Bull, although the breach – reported to be in the region of £1.8m and £2m – is thought to trigger a financial and/or sporting penalty, which could see them docked points.

The FIA are under pressure to act heavily, with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas joining team bosses in demanding heavy punishment for Red Bull for their infraction. But as talks between the two parties continue, it remains unknown just how severe their penalty will be.

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