Red Bull spent EUR 245m for 2011 title - report

Red Bull has the standout budget among F1’s UK-based teams, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

Citing British companies data, the magazine said Red Bull Technology - the Red Bull Racing parent - had a budget of EUR 245 million in 2011 as Sebastian Vettel sped to his back-to-back drivers’ world championship.

Auto Motor und Sport said Red Bull’s budget last year was EUR 42 million higher than in 2010.

Brackley based Mercedes, meanwhile, reportedly spent just EUR 145 million in 2011 — a full EUR 100 million less than Red Bull.

Lotus’ 2011 budget was a reported EUR 155m, compared to Williams’ 111m.

McLaren’s figures are pending.

But the news about Red Bull coincides with a fresh wave of speculation in the paddock about the energy drink-owned team’s defiance in the face of the teams-governed Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA).

McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh, however, fell short of accusing Red Bull of cheating.

"If they are ahead of us, it’s because they’ve done the better job," he said.