New Delhi:-   Red Bull manager Christian Horner hit back on Friday after Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell suggested his dominant team got off lightly for breaking F1's cost cap last year.

Red Bull was fined $7 million last season for "mild overspending" in 2021, subject to success on the circuit, with the already reduced amount plus a further penalty of reducing its annual wind tunnel time by 10 percent. 

Hamilton, whose team has been catching up since early 2022, said Red Bull did not receive a serious penalty at Thursday's Hungarian Grand Prix, but Russell told reporters it was "not a crime".

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“Believe me, the disadvantage we have suffered compared to our competitors due to the lack of time in the wind tunnel is a big trade-off,” Horner told Sky Sports TV.

“If wind tunnels are not important, why should they be phased out?”

"Whenever you're not performing, it's easy to get overshadowed. That's one thing that always happens in F1."

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Mercedes won an unprecedented eight consecutive Constructors' titles until the rules changed in 2022, and Red Bull has dominated ever since. Hamilton, the sport's most successful driver, hasn't won a race since 2021. 

Red Bull have won every race this season, with double world champion Max Verstappen trailing team-mate Sergio Perez by 99 points, and are looking to extend their 12th consecutive win this weekend, one more than McLaren's in 1988.

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Having won 20 out of the last 21 races, he came to the Hungaroring on an improved machine with changed sidepods and a flat radiator intake.

“I am very proud of the work our team is doing despite the limitations and handicaps,” Horner said. “We had a similar result this year and to win 11 in a row was a great result.” 

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The previous season was not that good for the Red Bull Racing as they have to face a huge penalty regarding the overspend they made and now Christian Horner commented on Mercedes. Red Bull have got in the Hungarian Grand Prix with no punishments and with great success because of Max Verstappen.