Before joining Red Bull once more in 2023 as a backup racer, Daniel Ricciardo expressed his perspective on how the team would be impacted by the penalty they received for going over the 2021 cost cap.
Red Bull’s 10% loss of their aerodynamic research allowance as a consequence of exceeding the 2021 cost cap, according to Daniel Ricciardo, is a “big amount,” but he believes the team will be capable in handling the penalty.
The punishment and the Milton Keynes-based team’s requirement to pay a $7 million fine as a result of the violation were both confirmed in October.
Team manager Christian Horner said that the lack of aerodynamic improvement could charge them “up to half a second per lap,” while Ferrari’s Laurent Mekies questioned if the penalty would have a significant enough effect.
Ricciardo has expressed his viewpoint on the issue ahead of his rejoining the team in 2023 as a third driver.
Ricciardo reflects on Red Bull fine
“You can’t deny that it doesn’t hurt, because, when you’re talking [about] F1, every bit counts,” Ricciardo told the Beyond The Grid podcast.
“It’s like everyone’s chasing that last… not even an inch, it’s that last, whatever, micro-inch, so 10 per cent is a serious number.
“But they’re obviously in a good position where they’ve got a very good car, so you’d think they’ve obviously learned enough from this car to then still have a competitive car next year.
“Even if they’re winning next year, they would say, ‘Well, we could be 10 per cent better’, or whatever.”
Ricciardo thinks the team may be more motivated as a result of the penalty.
“It’s not nothing. It’s definitely not nothing,” he added.
“But I know there’s a lot of people in the team that were there back in my day and, knowing what they’re like, that’ll just motivate them even more.”
Ricciardo praised the “competitive pressure” at the front
Ricciardo admitted that the level of competition between the top teams is a big draw in the sport when host Tom Clarkson referred to Red Bull as “ferocious rivals” and implied that Horner had gone “on the attack” in response to the cost cap scenario.
“Even as a fan of the sport, watching Mercedes and Red Bull go at it [in 2021], and Max [Verstappen] and Lewis [Hamilton], it’s awesome,” the Australian said.
“It just highlights how much it means to everyone that puts the effort in, and that’s what you want. You want this intense, heavy competition – it’s the heavyweights, and that’s what everyone wants to see.
“It’s like with boxing, everyone wants to watch the heavyweights go at it.”
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F1, F1 2023, FIA, Formula 1, Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, Red Bull, Red Bull Racing, Daniel Ricciardo, Christian Horner