Feb.3 (GMM) Helmut Marko has scoffed at claims Red Bull is now formula one's biggest spender.

Some reports have said the energy drink-owned team, who won the championships in 2010 and are tipped to once again set the pace in 2011, spent EUR 300 million on F1 last year.

"Those figures are completely wrong; the truth is less than half of that," team consultant Dr Marko told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

The Austrian implied that the false numbers were released maliciously.

"Either someone spread these false figures deliberately, or he cannot read a balance sheet," said Marko.

He said Red Bull Racing actually ranks as the fourth-highest spender in pitlane, with Auto Motor und Sport claiming the team's true budget is closer to EUR 160m.

There is some bad feeling in the paddock at present, as Red Bull is accused of breaking the Resource Restriction Agreement last year.

With the disagreement not yet resolved, the team is refusing to agree to a new agreement for 2011.

"We are not opposed to saving, it's just that it can't only benefit the teams that are not good enough by only restricting the aerodynamics.

"We say yes to savings, if the engine areas are affected in the same way," insisted Marko.

He said Red Bull is also opposed to financial penalties being paid to the other teams to "supplement their budgets", arguing that those found guilty of breaking the agreement should instead pay fines "for the promotion of the sport, or to charity".

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version