Lewis Hamilton warns FIA to not be lenient with Red Bull over 2021 budget breach

Lewis Hamilton has told Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, that Red Bull must not escape breaking the financial rules with only "a slap on the wrist".

The build-up to this weekend's United States Grand Prix - the first race since Max Verstappen claimed his second world championship in Japan a fortnight ago - has been dominated by what sanction Red Bull will be dealt for exceeding last year's £114 million budget cap.

Although the FIA is yet to release details on how much Red Bull overspent when they carried Verstappen to a deeply controversial championship win over Hamilton in 2021, it is understood the figure is £1.8m.

The punishments available to the FIA range from a reprimand, to a fine, to a deduction of drivers' championship points.

The use of the latter would have an impact on last season's result. Verstappen denied Hamilton a record eighth world crown at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. However, it is not expected that last year's championship will be reversed.

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F1 must do something

But speaking in Austin, Hamilton, 37, said: "I do believe the sport has to do something about this because if the FIA are quite relaxed with these rules, then all the teams will just go over [the budget] and spend millions more.

"Only getting a slap on the wrist is not great for the sport. They might as well not have a cost cap in future.

"I do believe [FIA president] Mohammed [Ben Sulayem] and his team will make the right decisions. I have to believe that. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt.

"I am just focused on doing the best job I can, and what they have done is done. I am looking forward, and looking at how I can win another world