Relief for Max Verstappen with Red Bull set to avoid major penalty over F1 budget cap

Red Bull are expected to escape a sporting penalty over the 2021 budget cap, with the team now understood to be guilty of a 'procedural' breach at most.

The development, which comes following the latest round of talks with the FIA on Monday, removes any threat to Max Verstappen's maiden world title last year.

The governing body is due to issue compliance certificates for the 2021 cap this week.

Red Bull were furious after rival teams in Singapore last weekend privately briefed that they had overspent the $145m cap by up to $10m. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also said publicly that Red Bull's submission had been investigated "for weeks and months".

Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, threatened to sue his rivals unless they withdrew what he described as "hugely defamatory" comments.

Horner insisted Red Bull's submission was below the cap but admitted dialogue with the FIA was still ongoing. He also questioned where the leaks were coming from.

It is understood Red Bull may not be found to be in breach at all. Or if they are it is thought most likely to be a procedural breach akin to rivals Williams.

According to the financial regulations, a procedural breach would result in a financial penalty unless there are sufficient mitigating factors not to impose one, or sufficient aggravating factors to impose a minor sporting penalty in addition to a financial penalty or in lieu of it.