Red Bull hit with $7.4m entry fee penalty after historic F1 2023 season

Red Bull Racing of Milton Keynes made its mark on F1 history this season with an outstanding display, winning 21 out of 22 races and securing the world championship titles early. Their 860 points surpassed the previous record set by Mercedes with 765 points during the 2016 title double.

However, achieving such success comes with a hefty cost, as Red Bull faces the largest official entry fee for any team in F1 history. Since 2013, the FIA has calculated entry fees based on the number of points scored in the previous season as part of a revised Concorde Agreement. Initially starting with a base fee of $500,000 plus $5,000 per point scored, the escalating fees for 2024 now stand at $657,837 for the base fee, plus $6,575 per point scored, and $7,893 for the constructors’ champion. This has resulted in Red Bull paying $7,445,817 to the FIA by December 10 to secure its entry for 2024.

To put into perspective the scale of Red Bull’s dominance, Mercedes, with 409 points, only has to pay $3,347,012, while Ferrari, with 406 points, owes $3,327,287. Team boss Christian Horner admitted the record-breaking fee was significant, but it reflected the team’s incredible success and emphasized that the fee falls outside the budget cap.

When asked about missing out on a clean sweep this year after the Singapore Grand Prix, Horner expressed humility, stating that it was a useful lesson that there is always more to strive for. Despite the setback, Red Bull’s performance has rewritten the history books, with Max Verstappen delivering astounding results, breaking records, and emerging with an unprecedented level of success in Formula 1 history.

Here’s the full list of entry fees that teams must pay for next year:

Team Points Base Fee Per Point Fee Total
Red Bull 860 657,837 7,893 7,445,817
Mercedes 409 657,837 6,575 3,347,012
Ferrari 406 657,837 6,575 3,327,287

Reference

Olivia Carter

Olivia Carter revs up excitement in the world of NASCAR. As a dedicated motorsports enthusiast, she covers race results, driver profiles, and the latest developments in the NASCAR world, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.