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Last year, the FIA thoroughly investigated the budget limits for teams in the 2021 F1 season. They found Red Bull to be in breach, having exceeded the cap by almost five percent. The reigning champions were fined seven million dollars and a 10 percent reduction in their allocation for wind tunnel testing and CFD simulations this season.
Now the FIA is going further and intensifying its scrutiny by looking at the teams' activity in other competitions that they may be using to avoid the cost cap.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the organisation has reportedly issued a technical directive, TD45, aimed specifically at controlling the spending of the top four teams this season: Red Bull, Aston Martin, Mercedes and Ferrari.
Keeping an eye on all movements
The aim is to investigate and prevent these teams from using personnel from outside their Formula 1 working group, and therefore not present in the budget, to gather information through other races and sports.
All four teams are represented in other motorsports and also in some disciplines with boats or bicycles, where they can collect data that is beneficial.
Red Bull and Mercedes are involved in the America's Cup, a category for which James Allison left his role as technical director of the Brackley team in 2021 and has now left to return to F1. The Austrians, meanwhile, are also competing in the world of cycling. While Ferrari is under the spotlight for its Endurance Championship department in which it has just won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Aston Martin escaped sanction last season, but this year they are being monitored in all their movements. The team has shown a marked improvement and that makes the organisation more vigilant. However, the FIA has made it clear that it will not allow the transfer of any intellectual property from projects that are run outside of Formula 1 operations.
On the other hand, the investigation into the budget cap in 2022 will start soon, where it should be clear whether all teams have adhered to it.