Budget Cap: from Toto Wolff praise for FIA and a dig at Red Bull

Good face, but also a clear jibe at ancient rivals.

Toto Wolff has his say about the fine the FIA imposed on Red Bull for exceeding the Budget Cap in the 2021 season. And the Mercedes team principal on the one hand described himself as partially satisfied with the decision, and on the other hand further distanced himself from the Anglo-Austrian team.

“The most important thing is that the process has given the correct outcome,” Wolff told ‘Sky Sports’ microphones. “I cannot say whether the penalty is too heavy or too light, but it is still a penalty. I like the way the FIA operated, so from that point of view I am satisfied.”

Faced with the consideration of a penalty that is nonetheless light in the face of a decidedly important possible gain on the track, Wolff nonetheless assured that at Mercedes they would never take such a risk with the regulations: “I wouldn’t, because $7 million is still a big amount of money. But even more important is the reputation today. You cannot play with our transparency and integrity. We have a responsibility for our brand, for everyone on the team, and also for all our partners. That is why we could never play with these things.”