Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says it's currently an "open secret" within the Formula 1 pen that one team was "fundamentally massively" over the cost cap last year.

After a day of quick developments in the Singapore Grand Prix paddock, as speculation targeted Aston Martin and Red Bull having doubtless not complied with the 2021 cost cap limit, Wolff did not hold back in his views concerning however serious the matter was. After Red Bull team boss Christian Horner had indicated earlier in the day that his squad’s submission for the 2021 cap was below the circa $145 million limit, Wolff aforesaid that flew in the face of what paddock’s senior figures had learned.

“It's funny Christian says that as a result of it's been weeks and months they're being investigated, thus perhaps he doesn't speak to his CFO,” Wolff told Sky F1.

“As a matter of fact, all of us have been investigated diligently. And as way, as we understand, there's a team in minor breach, that is additional procedural and another team that's basically massively over which is being still looked after. thus that' an open secret in the paddock. ”Wolff said that the issue of a cost cap breach wasn't one thing that ought to be brushed aside because his team had sacrificed car performance, and had to lose staff, to make sure it complied with the limit that was in place. He felt it'd be unfair if any overspending was dealt with leniently.

“It’s heavyweight, it massively heavyweight,” he same concerning the matter. “We're using used parts. we tend to aren't running what we might need to run; we are not developing what we might be developing. “We have created over 40 folks redundant that is dearly missed in our organization, and it was an enormous mammoth project to create the cap. “I don't know how several tens of millions we tend to had to reconstitute and apply so as to be below the cap. And if somebody has been not doing that, or pushing the boundaries, each million [you don’t spend] may be a large disadvantage.”

Whereas this issue relates to defrayal over the 2021 campaign, with the FIA stating that compliance certificates are going to be issued next week, Wolff believes the implications are massive. He says that if Red Bull overspent last year, it might carry edges through this year and into 2023. “The crucial part is that if you've been over in 2021, then you've been over in ‘22,” he said. “That means that you've got a bonus in ‘23. “If it's true that they've [Red Bull] homologated the light-weight chassis this year, they will use it next year. thus it's a true cascade of events that may be potent in all of the 3 championships.”

The FIA has responded to speculation of cost cap breaches and states no judgments are going to be created till it completes its assessments. "The FIA is presently finalizing the assessment of the 2021 money information submitted by all Formula 1 teams. Alleged breaches of the money Regulations, if any, are going to be dealt with in line with the formal process set out within the regulations," an FIA statement read. "The FIA notes important and uncorroborated speculation and conjecture in relation to this matter, and reiterates that the assessment is current and due process of law will be followed inconsiderately to any external discussion."