Lewis Hamilton issues FIA demand at Japanese GP after Red Bull breach

Lewis Hamilton discusses his experience with race at Formula 1

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Lewis Hamilton has demanded that Red Bull’s alleged budget cap breach is fully investigated for the “transparency” of the sport. The seven-time champion stressed accountability was vital and backed the FIA under new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to make the right calls. 

Red Bull have been accused of breaching F1’s budget cap last season which could have major repercussions for the team. Sky Sports F1 pundit Ted Kravitz said it was important the issue was not “brushed under the carpet” in conversation with Hamilton, something the Briton quickly agreed with. 

Kravitz then asked if it was important for the integrity of the sport that the findings were made available. Hamilton responded: “1,000 per cent. I think transparency is always very important. 

“Particularly with all the fans that tune in and travel around the world. It’s important for us, all the thousands of people that are working. It’s important to have transparency throughout the organisation. Accountability is something we always have to hold true to. We have seen in previous years of the sport where things have been dealt with in the background. 

“I don’t think that’s the new way forward with the new way of working with Mohammed (Ben Sulayem). I think integrity is very important to him and as it is to F1 these days with the new management. We have good people in place. I hope we get the right governance.”

It comes after German newspaper Auto Motor und Sport claimed Red Bull had broken F1’s budget cap by around £9million ($10mil). In a worst-case scenario Red Bull could see Max Verstappen stripped of his world title which would be handed to Hamilton. 

But, this now looks unlikely, with the real figure understood to be a much lower minor breach. Journalist Alexandre Braeckman, per F1i, has revealed the team broke the cap by just £131,000 ($150,000).

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But, he claimed the team had been investigated for breaches as high as £10.5million ($12mil) until Red Bull appealed. The FIA will not release any official word of the verdict until Monday despite the FIA previously setting a deadline of yesterday.

Red Bull have denied any wrongdoing, claiming last weekend that the claims were “speculation”. Team principal Christian Horner has also hit back at rival teams for making “defamatory” comments and has threatened legal action. 

He added: “What is totally unacceptable is for teams that are not party to any form of the submission to be making claims about our submission, about perspective penalties. It’s just bang out of order. Perhaps when these accusations are made, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

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