Red Bull left counting "brutal" cost of Valtteri Bottas blunder

Hungarian GP start — Photo: © LAT Images

Hungarian Grand Prix

Red Bull left counting "brutal" cost of Bottas blunder

Mercedes driver's error ruined the race for both Red Bulls

Ian Parkes & Sam Hall

Monday 2 August 2021 08:00 Updated: 18:01

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has declared the cost of Valtteri Bottas' turn one blunder in the Hungarian Grand Prix as "brutal".

On a damp Hungaroring track, Bottas misjudged his braking into the first corner that resulted in him running into the back of McLaren's Lando Norris.

That punted the Briton into the side of Max Verstappen's Red Bull, while Bottas then careered into the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez.

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Both Red Bulls sustained considerable damage, with Perez forced to retire halfway around the opening lap, while Verstappen lost a bargeboard and chunks of the floor.

The Dutch driver went on to claim two points from ninth place, albeit with the result provisional depending on whether Aston Martin formally confirms it will appeal Sebastian Vettel's disqualification.

Asked if Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had apologised for the accident, Horner initially joked: "Is he going to pay the bill?"

Horner then added: "It is racing. Toto wasn't driving the car. Valtteri was driving the car. I am sure he didn't tell him to drive into the Red Bull.

"I am sure he isn't sorry about the result but I am sure he didn't tell Valtteri to do that but the consequence of it for us is brutal.

"In the cost cap environment, that needs looking at and needs looking at by the FIA."

Horner calls for cost cap adjustment

This season is the first contested under a strict $145million budget cap that impacts heavily on teams when cars are involved in accidents.

After a $1.8m rebuild on Verstappen's car following his lap-one crash in the British GP after a collision with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, Horner believes the FIA needs to consider the cap's application.

“Obviously, you’ve got to look at what’s within the cap," said Horner when asked how the repair bill will be funded.

"It’s spare parts and it’s the engines as well that are particularly concerning so I think we need to revisit this with the FIA because ultimately it is something that could affect all teams not just Red Bull.”

For the incident, Bottas was handed a five-place grid penalty that will be served at the Belgian GP after the summer break.