[ad_1]
The FIA has dismissed recent reports that at least two teams have breached the 2022 F1 cost cap; watch all Hungarian GP sessions live on Sky Sports F1, starting from P1 on Friday at 12pm; F1 Juniors is live on Sky Showcase and Sky Sports Mix on Sunday
18.12, Great Britain, Thursday 20 July 2023
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton says he is “concerned” that the teams have breached the 2022 Formula 1 spending cap because Red Bull’s 2021 overspending has not been given a “big penalty”.
Reports from Italy and Germany ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian GP have claimed that at least two F1 teams have breached the 2022 cost cap.
The FIA has dismissed these reports, insisting that the review process is ongoing and no decisions have been made.
Red Bull was found guilty of “slight overspending” in 2021, the first season in which the cost cap was active, and was fined $7 million, along with a 10 percent discount on wind tunnel time this season.
Asked by Sky Sports about the possibility of teams breaking the $135 million mark last season, Hamilton, narrowly beaten by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title in 2021, said: “It’s definitely a concern.
“I mean last time there wasn’t really a big penalty so it’s not real…
“There are people who will probably go for it again knowing they’re just getting a slap on the wrist.”
Despite the wind tunnel penalty, Red Bull have won all 10 races to start the 2023 season and are aiming for a record 12th consecutive win – going into the final race of 2022 – this weekend in Budapest.
Audit field work to determine whether the 10 teams are within the budget cap is ongoing and will be completed in the coming weeks.
There will be a deadline for the completion of the review, and any suggestion of a delay in the process or potential violations will be considered completely unfounded.
The CCA (Cost Cap Adjudication) panel will formally report its findings later this year and there is no fixed time limit so as not to undermine the robustness and effectiveness of the assessment.
Almost all the leading F1 teams have announced that they have not breached the budget cap and will continue to cooperate with the FIA.
While Red Bull was the only team to overspend in 2021 and receive a sporting penalty, Williams and Aston Martin were also fined for procedural breaches.
Hamilton: Mercedes contract extension “very, very close”
Speaking at the Hungaroring on Thursday, Hamilton also confirmed he was “very, very close” to extending his contract with Mercedes.
The seven-time world champion’s current contract expires at the end of the season, but both he and Mercedes team manager Toto Wolff have repeatedly expressed their confidence that an extension will be agreed upon.
Hamilton said he did not expect a deal to be completed and made the announcement ahead of F1’s summer break, which follows next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
“It might be announced at the end of the year, I don’t know,” he said.
“Honestly, I just don’t have any more information to share with you this week. It’s back and forth with the lawyers.”
Unlike previous contract negotiations, Hamilton has relied on keeping himself out of discussions, leaving it to his management team and lawyers.
“I haven’t been involved all along,” he added. “I’ve been removed from it from the beginning.
“I wanted to be able to focus on all the other things I have going on. The team is working on it in the background.
“There are no negotiations left, it’s just bits and pieces.”
Russell: Second-time offenders should be punished more
George Russell said: “If someone has broken a rule you want the punishment to represent the offence, and I think there were offenses last year and the punishment clearly didn’t fit the offence.
“We don’t want to see it happen again. If it’s a second offender, the punishment should be even greater than what is perhaps a fair punishment if it happens two years in a row.
“I trust the FIA, I think Mohammed (Ben Sulayem) is a big force there as well. They don’t let anyone get away with things that shouldn’t have happened under their watch, so I believe in them.”
Sky Sports F1 live Hungarian GP schedule
Friday July 21
8:55: F3 practice
10 am: F2 exercises
12 p.m.: Hungarian GP Practice One (episode starts at 12:30 p.m.)
14:00: F3 qualifying
14:45: F2 qualifying
15:40: practice two of the Hungarian GP (session starts at 16:00)
17:15: F1 show
Saturday, July 22
8:45: F3 Sprint
11:15 a.m.: Third practice of the Hungarian GP (session starts at 11:30 a.m.)
13:10: F2 Sprint
14:15: Hungarian GP qualifying round (Sky Showcase)
15:00: HUNGARIAN GP qualifying (Sky Showcase)
17:00: Ted’s eligibility notebook
Sunday July 23
7:20: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
11 a.m.: Porsche Super Cup
12:30 p.m.: Grand Prix Sunday – Hungarian GP build-up
1.30pm: F1 Juniors: Hungarian Grand Prix (Sky Sports Mix and Sky Showcase)
At 14:00 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Checkered flag: British GP reaction
5 pm: Ted’s notebook
The return of Daniel Ricciardo and the first F1 juniors headline the Hungarian Grand Prix! Watch all the action live on Sky Sports F1 from 21 to 23. July. Stream the Hungarian GP and more with NOW for £21 a month.
|
Sources 2/ https://www.skysports.com/amp/f1/news/12040/12924370/lewis-hamilton-concerned-f1-teams-have-breached-2022-cost-cap-after-lack-of-big-punishment-for-red-bull The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
[ad_2]