Lewis Hamilton insists Red Bull’s penalty for breaching Formula 1’s budget cap regulations has “certainly” had a negative effect on them.
The FIA announced last October that Red Bull had exceeded spending for the 2021 season through a “lower” amount. After weeks of talks, the governing framework agreed to a sanction with the team.
In addition to a hefty fine, Red Bull lost 10% of its test time in the wind tunnel over the next 12 months. It was a sporting sanction that team boss Christian Horner continually insisted would have an effect on his performance.
SoArray, the reigning champions, have shown no signs of concern. They are 154 points ahead of their nearest rivals in the standings and have won all 8 races this year.
With the penalty in mind, Horner has already admitted that his team is now focusing on getting the 2024 car up. But Sky Sports F1 pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz reacted to the revelation to ask if the punishment had had a sporting impact.
He said after Red Bull’s victory in Canada last time: “They already have the credit with this year’s car. We are not even in the middle of the season and they can already have the ability and control the time in the wind tunnel, even contemplating the penalty. For the agreed break agreement on the charging limit – for next year’s car.
“So it’s a virtuous circle, to have such a smart car this year. It may be that the breach of the load limit and ten percent less time in the wind tunnel that Red Bull suffered is not a penalty at all. If you can start now with next year’s car, then it’s not a penalty at all, right?”
On Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Kravitz spent a few minutes talking to Hamilton in the TV bullpen. And his first query on whether he agreed that Red Bull’s penalty didn’t have much effect.
Kravitz said: “I’m tempted to go ahead and ask you if you think Red Bull will start next year’s car, the 10% reduction in the load limit, will you end up charging them at all?we’re talking about Canada at the end. “
Hamilton’s reaction: “I don’t think it’s like that anyway. The penalty didn’t charge them anything. ” Kravitz investigated further: “They say he will charge them at the end of the year. “But Hamilton laughed, adding: “In fact, it’s not. [The impact] is so small. “
And to illustrate this claim, the Mercedes driver has put his index finger and thumb together to show how little impact he believes Red Bull felt from the punishment for breaking budget cap rules.
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