Max Verstappen may be stripped of his first Formula One world championship with Red Bull embroiled in a ‘cheat storm’.The team has come under fire after German newspaper Auto Motor und Sport reported it had exceeded last year’s budget set at £114million by £4.5m.
It is understood that Red Bull’s breach would only be deemed a ‘minor violation’ under current rules, resulting in a financial penalty.But the team could be in breach of a ‘material overspend’ if more money has in fact been spent.
A potential points deductions could therefore be implemented along with ‘exclusion’ from last year’s championship, which Verstappen controversially pipped Lewis Hamilton to in the very last race at Abu Dhabi.READ MORE: Toto Wolff makes Christian Horner jibe amid claims Red Bull have breached F1 cost capNow Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has called the matter a “massively heavyweight” issue.
And fans have begun to speculate that Verstappen could be stripped of his first world championship, which would in turn give Hamilton a record eighth title.When asked if the matter was serious, Wolff replied: “That’s heavyweight, that’s massively heavyweight.
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