The F1 world continues to wait for a decision on a potential cost cap punishment for Red Bull as actions gets back underway on the track in qualifying for the United States Grand Prix.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem were spotted speaking in the paddock on Saturday for around 15 minutes, according to Sky Sports.
Red Bull was confirmed to have committed a “minor” breach of the $145 million spending limit but there is still yet to be any official announcement on a punishment for those actions.
Rival teams are certainly pushing for Red Bull to be penalised, with McLaren team boss Zak Brown labelling it “cheating” while Ferrari urged for “maximum penalties”.
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Mercedes’ George Russell, meanwhile, said the breach was “almost disrespectful” given some staff had been made redundant by teams who tried to stick to the cap.
“If there’s a ruleset there it needs to be stuck to,” Russell told Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz.
“You’ve got nine, or eight, teams that have worked incredibly hard to stick to those rules, compromised many things, people being made redundant. You’ve got development there ready to go but the finances aren’t there because you’d go over the cost cap.
“To then learn that some people have ignored those regulations and done as they please is obviously very hurtful and almost disrespectful in a way to so many people who have put the time and effort in to stay within it, who have lost their jobs because of it.
“We’re going to find out what the FIA needs to do, but I trust in them to do what is right. If not, I don’t know what it means for the cost cap but I think it’s in everyone’s interest for this sport that it gets dealt with properly.”
The cost cap drama will continue to bubble away in the background as the action on the track continues, with Carlos Sainz outpacing Max Verstappen in the opening free practice.
Teammate Charles Leclerc also topped the second practice, also Sainz said there is still room for Ferrari to improve ahead of qualifying.
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“We were definitely on the pace today,” Sainz said.
“It hasn’t been an easy day with the bumps; it’s always challenging here in Austin to have a good balance and to have a good ride over the kerbs and bumps. But in general, even if it wasn’t the most comfortable car to drive out there, we were quick, which is what counts.
“There’s still a bit of work to do on the car for tomorrow, especially FP3 where we need to test a couple of things that we couldn’t test in FP2 because of the Pirelli test – so a few things are on the checklist.”
Lewis Hamilton was third in the opening practice and was full of praise for Mercedes after receiving a host of upgrades ahead of this weekend’s race, including a new rear wing endplate.
“Everything went to plan, and firstly I’m super grateful to everyone back at the factory for working so hard and bringing us an upgrade this weekend,” he said.
“It’s been a tough year for everyone at the factory, and for them to continuously be pushing and keeping their heads out and pulling out these new pieces, I’m super grateful.
“I’m hoping we make some changes tonight and tomorrow we’ll see where we stand. But it doesn’t feel like we’re too far from everybody.”
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