F1 LIVE: Christian Horner responds to ‘draconian’ Red Bull penalty after budget cap breach

Bumble bees become first insects known to ‘play with balls’ Scientists in the UK have confirmed that bumble bees, just like humans and dogs, like to play with balls. This video shows the bees playing with little wooden balls, making them the first insections known to play with inanimate objects for fun. The team said its findings, published in the journal Animal Behaviour, add to growing evidence that bees’ minds are much more complex than previously imagined.”It is certainly mind-blowing, at times amusing, to watch bumble bees show something like play,” PhD student at Queen Mary Samadi Galpayage said. Source: PA The Independent Caught on camera: Arizona javelinas help themselves to Halloween pumpkins It’s not just humans who love a good pumpkin – javelinas are also out looking for a sweet treat! Chris Maxedon shared video of the animals eating up his family’s Halloween decorations at his Ahwatukee home. The Independent Man creates floating suit from more than 1,000 cork tops A man has spent three years and more than 130 hours building a floating suit made from 1,150 corks.Kerry Haulotte, 64, crafted the bizarre suit in total secrecy until it was ready for its maiden voyage where “it performed flawlessly and has been going ever since.”A video filmed by Kerry’s stepdaughter Haley Buntrock shows the suit’s debut in Lake Michigan, USA.SWNS The Independent LIVE – Updated at 18:24 Red Bull have been fined £6.07m ($7m) by the FIA and been given a 10% reduction in car development time for breaching the 2021 Formula 1 budget cap – meaning Max Verstappen will not be stripped of his first world title.The team have now come to terms with an ‘Accepted Breach Agreement’ (ABA) with the FIA, with the agreed penalty announced on Friday afternoon. The overspend from Red Bull was revealed to be £1.864m, with the FIA acknowledging that the breach would have been £432,652 if a tax credit had been correctly applied.Red Bull’s fine is not a reduction of their cost cap for this season – set at $135m – while their 10% cut in permitted aerodynamic research relates to time spent using their wind tunnel or computational fluid dynamics to design their car. Negotiations between Red Bull boss Christian Horner and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem took place last week in Austin but the verdict was delayed after the passing of Red Bull’s founder and co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz.Red Bull could have challenged the FIA’s decision, with their case heard by independent judges in the Cost Cap Adjudication Panel, but that ran the risk of a harsher punishment and a potential loss of Championship points. The team are set to hold a press conference in Mexico City at 5:30pm (BST).Follow F1 updates with The Independent as Red Bull receive their cost cap punishment Red bull fined £6.07m after budget cap breach OPINION: Red Bull’s punishment isn’t just unfair – it could ruin F1 foreverChristian Horner describes the loss of 10% of car development team as ‘draconian’First practice at the Mexican Grand Prix is at 7pm (BST); FP2 is at 10pm – click HERE for weekend timings Fernando Alonso’s US Grand Prix points reinstated after Alpine appealLewis Hamilton to race into his 40s and focused on eighth title 15:24 , Kieran Jackson Red Bull have been fined $7m by the FIA and been given a 10% reduction in car development time for breaching the 2021 Formula 1 budget cap – meaning Max Verstappen will not be stripped of his first world title.The team have now come to terms with an ‘Accepted Breach Agreement’ (ABA) with the FIA, with the penalty announced on Friday afternoon. The overspend from Red Bull was revealed to be £1.864m, with the FIA acknowledging that the breach would have been £432,652 if a tax credit had been correctly applied.Negotiations between Red Bull boss Christian Horner and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem took place last week in Austin but the verdict was delayed after the passing of Red Bull’s founder and co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz.Red Bull could have challenged the FIA’s decision, with their case heard by independent judges in the Cost Cap Adjudication Panel, but that ran the risk of a harsher punishment and a potential loss of Championship points.The ABA emphasises: ‘There is no accusation or evidence that RBR [Red Bull Racing] has sought at any time to act in bad faith, dishonestly or in a fraudulent manner, nor has it wilfully concealed any information from the Cost Cap Administration.’Red Bull exceeded last year’s £114million budget cap in a year when Verstappen controversially beat Lewis Hamilton to the world title on the final lap in Abu Dhabi. Horner said in Austin he was ‘shocked and appalled’ that McLaren boss Zak Brown accused his team of cheating and said the insinuation has led to children of Red Bull staff being bullied at school. © Provided by The Independent Red Bull receive penalty for 2021 budget cap breach 18:18 , Kieran Jackson ‘I think the problem is it’s a new set of regulations. Whilst we feel hard done by, that there were mitigating circumstances, to drag the process out, wasn’t in anyone’s interest.’It sets a precedent. The danger for 2022 there could be six teams in breach of the cap. There is a chance that several teams, many of which have stated in F1 Commission meetings will break it this year. ‘These penalties set a precedent for the future. If you get 10% for a 0.37% breach, what is a 5% breach going to look like?’ © Provided by The Independent (AFP via Getty Images) 18:15 , Kieran Jackson ‘It will have an affect on both [years]. It will have a material effect on our performance. It’s difficult to put a lap time figure. It could be anywhere between 0.25s and 0.5s in lap time. What we have lost in ATR, we’ve gained in motivation.”It’s a handicap. We are going to have work incredibly hard. It gives an advantage to our competitors. I have full belief in our team. They have demonstrated that time and time again. There were other sporting penalties that were available to the FIA but this was pushed for by our competitors.’ 18:09 , Kieran Jackson Asked why Red Bull have accepted the penalty: ‘We accept that this set of regulations is immature, we accept this FIA administration has inherited these regulations, and there’s an awful lot of work for the future. Had we dragged it out through the process, to an appeal, it had taken months, and beyond that. The amount of speculation, commenting and sniping that has been going on in the paddock, we thought it was in everyone’s interest that we close the book here and today.’We accept the penalties. Collectively we have a duty of care, together with the other entrants, there are lessons for everyone to learn. The cost cap is an important part of F1. With such a new concept of incredibly complex regulations, it’s all different between all of those entities so that’s why we’ve chosen to accept it but as I say, it’s time to put it to bed and move on.’ 17:59 , Kieran Jackson ‘We took them up on their offer and felt it could be dealt quickly. Through that period we interacted with the panel and shared opinions on the topics. The FIA accepted there were mitigating factors in particular one specific item where essentially we overpaid in tax. ‘When you take that into account, a 1.8% breach comes down to a little over $400,000. So a 0.7% breach is essentially what we are talking about. There was debate about the sanction and the size of the sanction.’It was concluded earlier this week where he have been given a significant penalty – financially and sporting. The more draconian part is the sporting penalty. That it is an enormous amount. That represents between a quarter and half a second worth of lap time. That has a direct effect on next year’s car and will be in place for 12 months.’ © Provided by The Independent (Getty Images) 17:34 , Kieran Jackson ‘If the FIA is to be most effective and its punishments serve as a lesson to others when rules are broken in this way, the sanctions have to be much stronger in the future.’There was a breach of the cost cap by one team, with the other nine operating in line with the rules. It is therefore only right that punitive action is taken.’We hope the lessons learned through this process will mean all teams have a clear understanding of the rules in order to avoid any future breaches. While we are pleased to see them act, we would hope the FIA takes stronger action in future against those that wilfully break the rules.’ © Provided by The Independent (AP) 17:27 , Kieran Jackson Red Bull are set to hold a press conference in a few minutes in Mexico City to discuss their penalty for breaching the 2021 budget cap.The team have been fined $7m by the FIA and been given a 10% reduction in car development time for breaching the 2021 Formula 1 budget cap.The team have now come to terms with an ‘Accepted Breach Agreement’ (ABA) with the FIA, with the penalty announced on Friday afternoon. The overspend from Red Bull was revealed to be £1.864m, with the FIA acknowledging that the breach would have been £432,652 if a tax credit had been correctly applied.Updates and quotes from the press conference to follow… © Provided by The Independent (Getty Images) 17:15 , Kieran Jackson Valtteri Bottas has urged people to make ‘simple choices’ to combat climate change as he prepares to launch a new gravel cycling race.The Alfa Romeo driver will help hold the FNLD GRVL race in the Finnish city of Lahti next year. Bottas’ partner is professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell and the 33-year-old has always enjoyed time on the bike himself, pedalling to school as a child.Concious of the impact his chosen profession has on the environment, he hopes that his gravel race can help encourage others to think about the ‘simple things’ they can do to make a difference.’For me it’s a bit of a stress release,’ Bottas told the BBC of his love of cycling. ‘I can go to places that are quite remote, I can go to explore and almost leave any stress or F1-related things behind me when I get on my bike.’For me it’s mentally really important. I love nature and I love clean air, pure water, nice scenery – the less people you can see the better when I disconnect.’I’ve definitely seen climate change in Finland – already the summer and winter is turning more in extremes. Already from my childhood to now I can see a difference. Some places in Finland have become really windy, and it was not like that 20 years ago.’ © Provided by The Independent Valtteri Bottas reveals climate change concerns as he launches new cycling race 16:59 , Kieran Jackson Lewis Hamilton is set to extend his Formula One career beyond his 40th birthday after he revealed he will thrash out a new deal with Mercedes in the coming months.Hamilton’s £40million-a-year contract with the team expires at the end of next season. But the seven-time world champion, who turns 38 in January, wants to continue his record-breaking journey in the sport, with a multiple-year extension set to carry him into his forties.Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix, Hamilton said: ‘We are going to do another deal. We are going to sit down and discuss it in these next couple of months.’Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 after bursting on to the Formula One scene with McLaren in 2007. The Stevenage-born driver, who has the most victories and pole positions in F1 history – and shares the record of seven world championships with Michael Schumacher – has been supported by the Silver Arrows since his childhood.Hamilton has endured a turbulent campaign in his uncompetitive Mercedes machinery this season, while there were question marks over whether he would even return to F1 following his contentious championship defeat against Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi last year. © Provided by The Independent Lewis Hamilton set for new Mercedes contract to stay in Formula 1 16:45 , Kieran Jackson German car giant Audi has announced it has chosen Sauber as the team with which it will enter Formula One from the 2026 season.The manufacturer plans to acquire a stake in the Swiss racing team and make it Audi’s factory entrant. Audi will design the engine for its entry and join the grid in line with the sport’s new power unit regulations, while Sauber will develop and manufacture the race car.Finn Rausing, chairman of Sauber Holding, said in a statement: ‘Audi is the best partner for the Sauber Group. ‘It is clear that both companies share the same values and vision. We are looking forward to achieving our common goals with a strong and successful partnership.’Audi initially announced its intention to join the sport at the Belgian Grand Prix in August. Sauber will end its involvement with Alfa Romeo by the end of next season. The team will compete with a Ferrari engine in 2024 and 2025. © Provided by The Independent Audi to join F1 as Sauber works team from 2026 16:38 , Kieran Jackson Today, the FIA proved to the world once again that they do not have what it takes to adjudicate over their own sport.Red Bull Racing, found to be guilty by an FIA investigation of a ‘minor breach’ of the budget cap last season, have been punished under the terms of an ‘Accepted Breach Agreement’ (ABA) with a $7m fine and a minor de