Lewis Hamilton ‘concerned’ F1 teams have breached 2022 cost cap after lack of ‘big punishment’ for Red Bull

The FIA ​​has dismissed recent reports claiming that at least two teams have breached the 2022 F1 cost cap; Watch all of the Hungarian GP session live on Sky Sports F1, starting on P1 at 12 noon on Friday; F1 Juniors Sunday live on Sky Showcase and Sky Sports Mix

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton says he is “concerned” that the lack of a “major punishment” for Red Bull’s 2021 overspend has resulted in teams breaching the 2022 Formula 1 cost cap.

Reports coming out of Italy and Germany ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix claim that at least two F1 teams have exceeded the 2022 cost limit.

The FIA ​​has dismissed those reports, stating that the auditing process is ongoing and no decision has been taken.

Red Bull was found guilty of “slightly overspending” in 2021, the first season in which the cost cap was active, and received a $7 million fine and a 10 percent reduction in their wind tunnel time for the season.

Asked by Sky Sports about the possibility of teams exceeding the $135 million cap for last season, Hamilton, who was beaten to the driver’s title in 2021 by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, said: “It’s definitely a concern.

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Sky Sports F1’s David Croft has reacted to reports that a number of teams have breached the sport’s 2022 cost cap.

“I mean, there wasn’t a really big punishment last time, so no real punishment…

“There will be people who will probably do it again knowing they’re just going to get a slap on the wrist.”

Despite its wind tunnel penalty, Red Bull has won all 10 races to start the 2023 season and is looking for its 12th consecutive win – leading up to the final race of 2022 in Budapest this weekend.

Auditing fieldwork to see if the 10 teams are within the budget limit is underway and will be completed in the coming weeks.

A period will be followed to finalize the review and any suggestion of delay in the process or possible breaches will be treated as completely unfounded.

The CCA (Cost Cap Adjudication) panel will formally communicate its findings later this year and there is no fixed time frame so as not to adversely affect the robustness and effectiveness of the review.

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Sky F1’s Craig Slater reports on rumors of teams breaching cost limits, which the FIA ​​says are ‘factually incorrect’.

Almost all major F1 teams have indicated that they have not breached the budget limit and continue to work with the FIA.

While Red Bull was the only team to overspend in 2021 and receive a sporting fine, Williams and Aston Martin were also fined for procedural breaches.

Hamilton: Mercedes contract extension ‘very, very close’

Speaking at the Hungerring on Thursday, Hamilton also confirmed he is “very, very close” to agreeing a contract extension with Mercedes.

The seven-time world champion’s current deal expires at the end of the season, but both he and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff have repeatedly expressed confidence that an extension will be agreed.

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Relive Lewis Hamilton’s epic battle for second place at Silverstone with fellow Briton Lando Norris.

Hamilton said he did not expect the deal to be completed and would be announced before F1’s summer break, following next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

“It may be announced at the end of the year, I don’t know,” he said.

“To be honest, I don’t have any more information to share with you this week. That’s with the lawyers.”

Unlike previous contract negotiations, Hamilton has relied on keeping himself out of discussions, leaving it to his management team and lawyers.

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Despite being 38, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton can stay in the sport for at least another four years.

“I haven’t been a part of it the whole time,” he said. “I’ve been put off by it from the start.

“I wanted to be able to focus on all the other things I’m doing. The team is working on this in the background.

“There’s no conversation left, it’s just small talk.”

Russell: Second-time offenders should be punished more

George Russell said: “If someone has breached a rule, you want the punishment to represent the crime and I think last year there were breaches and clearly the punishment did not match the crime.

“We don’t want to see this happen again. If it’s a second time offender, the sentence should be even higher than what’s probably a fair sentence 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 won’t let anyone do anything that shouldn’t have been under their watch, so I trust them.”

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At the press conference before the Hungarian Grand Prix, George Russell joked that F1 juniors could replace David Croft as chief commentator in the future!

Sky Sports F1 live Hungarian GP schedule

Friday 21 July
8:55 am: F3 Practice
10 am: F2 practice
12 Noon: Hungarian GP Practice One (Session starts 12:30 PM)
2 pm: F3 Qualifying
2:45 PM: F2 Qualifying
3:40 PM: Hungarian GP Practice Two (Session starts at 4 PM)
5:15 pm: The F1 Show

Saturday 22 July
8:45 am: F3 Sprint
11:15 AM: Hungarian GP Practice Three (Session starts 11:30 AM)
1:10 PM: F2 Sprint
2:15 PM: Hungarian GP Qualifying Build-up (Sky Showcase)
3:00 PM: Hungarian GP Qualifying (Sky Showcase)
5 p.m.: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday 23 July
7:20 am: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
11 am: Porsche Supercup
12:30 PM: Grand Prix Sunday – Hungarian GP Build-up
1:30 PM: F1 Juniors: Hungarian Grand Prix (Sky Sports Mix and Sky Showcase)
2 pm: Hungarian Grand Prix
4pm: Checkered flag: British GP reaction
5 p.m.: Ted’s Notebook

The return of Daniel Ricciardo and the first F1 Juniors title broadcast of the Hungarian Grand Prix! Catch all the action live on Sky Sports F1 from 21-23 July. Stream the Hungarian GP and more now for £21 a month,