After several delays, the FIA is due to announce its findings on Monday in audits of F1 team spending last year.
Teams that were below the $145 million limit will receive certificates of compliance, while any team that overspent will likely face a hearing for potential penalties.
There has been huge intrigue that two teams have overspent, with speculation in the paddock pointing to Red Bull and Aston Martin. Both teams, however, insist they did nothing wrong.
But for Hamilton, who lost in the title race last year to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the situation is so critical because he knows the influence of spending on their on-track battle.
He cites the fact that while Mercedes had their hands tied and couldn’t make the major improvements they wanted in the second half of the campaign, rivals Red Bull continued to add new elements in a major push. .
Asked if it would be detrimental to F1 if teams were found to break the limit, Hamilton replied: “It sure is, because it would call into question our values, the integrity of the sport.
“I remember last year, as a driver you were always asking for updates. I remember at Silverstone we had our last update, and it was almost three tenths worth. I’m almost certain it cost less than a million…but maybe over time it would cost more in terms of construction.
“I remember after that I needed more updates but then I saw trucks from these guys [Red Bull], updates keep coming on the other car. I was like, ‘shit, it’s going to be hard to beat them in the championship if they keep bringing updates’.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12 make contact as they battle for the lead
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
He added, “It’s such an integral part of the development race. If we still had half a million to spend, we would have been in a different position in some of the following races if we had brought another floor, which we could easily have done.
“But that’s not the name of the game and I’m grateful that our team is very strict and respects [to the rules]. The way we work, they did an amazing job. It must be taken seriously. »
Hamilton hopes that when the FIA announces its findings on the 2021 cost cap, it does so with a proper explanation and full openness so competitors and fans can understand exactly what happened.
“I think it’s imperative,” he said. “We have to continue to have transparency for the fans, for the integrity of the sport.
“I don’t know enough, there are a lot of conversations in the background but nobody really knows. There are different numbers and different things being said.
“I was already expecting the results to come out and I like to think that if they’ve been delayed it’s because they’re taken very seriously and I hope Mohammad [Ben Sulayem] takes this seriously and will do what is good for the sport.
“I think it would be bad for the sport if no action was taken in the event of an infringement. But I don’t know if there is, so I will wait as you will.
While Red Bull have been the primary target for a potential rule breach, the team have insisted they have done nothing wrong and their 2021 bid is below the limit.
Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Insiders even suggested the team was several million dollars below the $145 million cap because they wanted to give themselves some leeway to keep it from going over.
Max Verstappen, who could wrap up his second world title in Japan this weekend, said he ignored speculation from the paddock on the matter, especially since he was convinced Red Bull was right.
“First they [the FIA] have to decide something is wrong,” he said. “And as far as I know, and also from what I hear from the team, we haven’t done anything wrong.
“So to be honest I’m not really busy with all that stuff. It’s up to the FIA and the teams to decide and I just have to focus on driving. I don’t have much to more to say on that, I guess we’ll find out on Monday.”
Additional reporting by Ronald Vording
After several delays, the FIA is due to announce its findings on Monday in audits of F1 team spending last year.
Teams that were below the $145 million limit will receive certificates of compliance, while any team that overspent will likely face a hearing for potential penalties.
There has been huge intrigue that two teams have overspent, with speculation in the paddock pointing to Red Bull and Aston Martin. Both teams, however, insist they did nothing wrong.
But for Hamilton, who lost in the title race last year to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the situation is so critical because he knows the influence of spending on their on-track battle.
He cites the fact that while Mercedes had their hands tied and couldn’t make the major improvements they wanted in the second half of the campaign, rivals Red Bull continued to add new elements in a major push. .
Asked if it would be detrimental to F1 if teams were found to break the limit, Hamilton replied: “It sure is, because it would call into question our values, the integrity of the sport.
“I remember last year, as a driver you were always asking for updates. I remember at Silverstone we had our last update, and it was almost three tenths worth. I’m almost certain it cost less than a million…but maybe over time it would cost more in terms of construction.
“I remember after that I needed more updates but then I saw trucks from these guys [Red Bull], updates keep coming on the other car. I was like, ‘shit, it’s going to be hard to beat them in the championship if they keep bringing updates’.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12 make contact as they battle for the lead
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
He added, “It’s such an integral part of the development race. If we still had half a million to spend, we would have been in a different position in some of the following races if we had brought another floor, which we could easily have done.
“But that’s not the name of the game and I’m grateful that our team is very strict and respects [to the rules]. The way we work, they did an amazing job. It must be taken seriously. »
Hamilton hopes that when the FIA announces its findings on the 2021 cost cap, it does so with a proper explanation and full openness so competitors and fans can understand exactly what happened.
“I think it’s imperative,” he said. “We have to continue to have transparency for the fans, for the integrity of the sport.
“I don’t know enough, there are a lot of conversations in the background but nobody really knows. There are different numbers and different things being said.
“I was already expecting the results to come out and I like to think that if they’ve been delayed it’s because they’re taken very seriously and I hope Mohammad [Ben Sulayem] takes this seriously and will do what is good for the sport.
“I think it would be bad for the sport if no action was taken in the event of an infringement. But I don’t know if there is, so I will wait as you will.
While Red Bull have been the primary target for a potential rule breach, the team have insisted they have done nothing wrong and their 2021 bid is below the limit.
Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Insiders even suggested the team was several million dollars below the $145 million cap because they wanted to give themselves some leeway to keep it from going over.
Max Verstappen, who could wrap up his second world title in Japan this weekend, said he ignored speculation from the paddock on the matter, especially since he was convinced Red Bull was right.
“First they [the FIA] have to decide something is wrong,” he said. “And as far as I know, and also from what I hear from the team, we haven’t done anything wrong.
“So to be honest I’m not really busy with all that stuff. It’s up to the FIA and the teams to decide and I just have to focus on driving. I don’t have much to more to say on that, I guess we’ll find out on Monday.”
Additional reporting by Ronald Vording
