Christian Horner ‘surprised’ by Mercedes after Toto Wolff stays within budget cap | F1 | Sport

Red Bull are set to suffer from the penalty handed down to them by the FIA. Max Verstappen, who won consecutive drivers’ championships in 2021 and 2022, could face stronger competition from the likes of Russell, Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. 

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes Red Bull’s biggest punishment was instead their reputation hit in the aftermath of the fine. “Yes, I think it’s okay. I think the biggest penalty was not the 10 per-cent wind tunnel time or the seven million dollars,” the Austrian said. 

“I think the biggest penalty was the reputational hit that the team got and, in a way, it’s unfair for the Red Bull mother brand which is fantastic in their field.

“But the racing team has just been having such a reputational hit and also the people. So I think nobody is kind of dare bringing it close to that anymore.”