F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Raises Cost Cap Concerns - "Just Gonna Get Slapped On The Wrist.”

Lewis Hamilton has raised concerns over the cost cap punishment being too small to deter teams from not breaching it.

Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton recently voiced concerns about potential violations of the Formula 1 budget cap due to perceived lenient penalties.

Citing the example of Red Bull, which won the Drivers' Championship in 2021 but was found to have committed a 'Minor Overspend Breach,' Hamilton expressed concerns over whether the penalties would be a real deterrent for other teams to not follow suit. Red Bull's "slap on the wrist" included lost wind tunnel time in 2023 and a hefty fine, but no sporting penalty. 

During an interview with Sky Sports F1, the British driver commented:

“Yes, it’s definitely a concern. I mean, it wasn’t really a big punishment last time so there’s no real [deterrent].

“There’ll be people that will probably go for it again, and know they’re just gonna get slapped on the wrist.”

As FIA reviews the 2022 accounts, recent rumours have suggested that up to three teams could have broken the budget cap rules, although the FIA has denied these claims. When asked what he feels the punishment should be, the Mercedes driver responded:

“It’s not my job to do that.

“But we have people in place who are supposed to police that. But it doesn’t surprise me because it was not a big penalty before.”

He also highlighted his view that Red Bull's penalty had little effect, stating:

“The penalty didn’t cost them anything. Definitely. Definitely, definitely didn’t. It was so small!” 

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has advocated for sporting penalties in such instances and urged prompt investigations by the FIA to curtail speculation and negative commentary.