Lewis: Slapped wrist not enough after Red Bull broke rules

LEWIS Hamilton has told Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, that Red Bull must not escape breaking the financial rules with only “a slap on the wrist”.

The build-up to tomorrow’s United States Grand Prix – the first race since Max Verstappen claimed his second world championship in Japan a fortnight ago – has been dominated by what sanction Red Bull will be dealt for exceeding last year’s £114 million budget cap.

Although the FIA is yet to release details by how much Red Bull overspent when they carried Verstappen to a deeply controversial championship win over Hamilton in 2021, it is understood the figure is £1.8m.

The punishments range from a reprimand, to a fine, to a deduction of drivers’ championship points. The use of the latter would have an impact on last season’s result.

Hamilton was denied a record eighth world crown by Verstappen at the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi. However, it is not expected that last year’s championship will be reversed.

“The sport has to do something about this because if the FIA are quite relaxed with these rules then all the teams will just spend millions more,’’ said Hamilton.

“Only getting a slap on the wrist is not great for the sport. They might as well not have a cost cap.”

It is understood Red Bull have been offered a punishment by the FIA, with both financial and sporting sanctions on the table.

Red Bull could enter an Accepted Breach Agreement where they must declare they exceeded the cost cap and will lose any right to an appeal. A penalty would then be applied. Such a deal would also erase the prospect of points being deducted.