{"id":23173,"date":"2023-03-15T22:39:48","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T22:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/?p=23173"},"modified":"2023-03-15T22:39:52","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T22:39:52","slug":"helmut-marko-sends-max-verstappen-fia-penalty-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/helmut-marko-sends-max-verstappen-fia-penalty-warning\/","title":{"rendered":"Helmut Marko sends Max Verstappen FIA penalty warning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2021, the gap between the top teams such as Mercedes and the rest of the grid was becoming too large to keep the sport competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teams like Williams simply could not financially compete with the top teams and the FIA decided to introduce a cost cap to bring the field closer together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teams were limited to spending a maximum of $145m over the course of the season and it was shockingly revealed last year that Red Bull had overspent in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite calls from other teams for a severe penalty, Red Bull\u2019s breach was categorised as \u2018minor\u2019 and therefore were punished with a $7m fine and had ten percent of their wind tunnel testing time taken away for the following 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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READ: Mercedes admit they will make \u2018radical changes\u2019 as Lewis Hamilton continues to stall<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With their limited testing time in mind, Red Bull evolved their RB18 concept as much as possible over the winter, improving their title winning car to be able to mount another title charge this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red Bull finished 50 seconds ahead of Mercedes at the Bahrain Grand Prix and even Ferrari look unable to lay a glove on the energy drink giants, leading fans to believe that the title could already be sewn up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helmut Marko, Red Bull\u2019s chief advisor, has rejected these claims, suggesting that their advantage will begin to fade as teams take advantage of their higher testing time allowance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe prepared ourselves optimally for the season,\u201d said the Austrian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce we knew that this penalty would be imposed, it was clear that, when we went into the wind tunnel, it had to be done in an efficient manner and each run with a clear plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the moment, we\u2019ve managed to do all that. But of course, as the season progresses and we run out of wind tunnel time, the others will still have that available and our lead will melt away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cristiano #Ronaldo<\/a> to be forced to attend 2023 Saudi Grand Prix https:\/\/t.co\/DvOWCYRcn1<\/a><\/p>— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) March 14, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>