Lewis Hamilton expressed his concerns about potential breaches of the cost cap in Formula One this season. He noted that teams faced minimal punishment last year for overspending, which could encourage further violations. Recent reports from Italy and Germany suggested that at least two teams may have exceeded the 2022 cap of $140 million. The FIA, the governing body, confirmed that their auditing process is still ongoing.
Last season, Red Bull was fined $7 million for a minor overspend in 2021 and received a 10% reduction in wind tunnel time. Aston Martin and Williams were also fined for procedural breaches. Despite these penalties, Red Bull has since achieved an impressive winning streak, aiming for a record 12th consecutive victory in Hungary.
Hamilton expressed his concern about the lack of significant punishment for financial rule violations. He believes that some teams may take advantage of this leniency and knowingly breach the rules, expecting only a minor penalty. His Mercedes teammate, George Russell, agreed and emphasized the need for stricter punishments. Russell stated that last year’s breaches did not receive appropriate consequences, and if a team becomes a repeat offender, the punishment should be even more severe.
Russell expressed trust in the FIA, believing that they will not allow any team to escape punishment for violations that occurred under their watch. Federico Lodi, the FIA’s single-seater financial regulations director, provided insight into the auditing process. Teams submitted interim and full submissions for the 2022 season, which were reviewed in detail. On-site audits began in May and were expected to continue for several months.
In conclusion, Hamilton and Russell expressed concerns about potential breaches of the cost cap in Formula One. They believe that the previous lenient punishments may encourage teams to overspend again. They called for stricter penalties to deter future violations. The FIA assured that their auditing process is ongoing and that they are committed to ensuring compliance with the financial rules.
