There has been no confirmation from the FIA about team spending over the budget cap last year, but in Singapore paddock sources, including some rival team bosses, have suggested that Aston Martin may have committed a “procedural” offence, and a lesser offense than the allegedly associated one. with Red Bull.
However, team principal Mike Krack insists there has been no news from the FIA of any issues before Wednesday’s expected confirmation of teams that have fully complied with the 2021 cap.
“It’s a process where you give your submission and then the FIA analyzes that and comes back with questions,” he told Autosport.
“And this process is still ongoing. So we don’t really know what the outcome will be. There is an ongoing discussion. We have questions about interpretation, they have questions about interpretation.
“And we were surprised to read our name in that stuff. So let’s see. We don’t think we did anything major wrong.”
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR22, fights with Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
In June, Williams was fined $25,000 for late submission of his documents. Asked if Aston Martin might have made an administrative error, Krack said: “I don’t know of any, I don’t think. As I said, there were questions that our financiers were also answering. Honestly, we need to wait what the outcome will be, but we’re not stressed about it.
Krack admitted it was frustrating for the team to be nominated.
“It’s upsetting. I think the most important thing is to stay focused on the weekend. When Thursday or Friday starts like this, it’s important not to distract people.
“And from our point of view, it was good that we weren’t the only ones mentioned, so you guys concentrated on the other side of the paddock! It’s a shame that these things come out like this, but that’s F1.”
Some rival teams have suggested that Aston recently spent a lot of money on recruitment and offered higher wages, implying that the team’s wage bill may have exceeded the cap.
“It’s a typical paddock, the best defense is attack,” Krack said. “I think at the end of the day we have to remember that we are a lot less people than most teams.
“We have to look at each other. You won’t get a war of words from us, we need to focus on moving forward. It is much more important than using the press to make statements.
