F1 News: George Russell Protests Red Bull Cost Cap - "The Punishment Didn't Fit The Crime"

George Russell lashes out at the FIA to act strictly against Red Bull in case of repeat cost cap violations.
F1 News: George Russell Protests Red Bull Cost Cap - "The Punishment Didn't Fit The Crime"
F1 News: George Russell Protests Red Bull Cost Cap - "The Punishment Didn't Fit The Crime" /

Yet again, the FIA's cost cap controversy is back in the headlines as the governing body finalises the audits into the 2022 accounts of all 10 teams. The concern however revolves around the severity of the punishment handed over to Red Bull last year for a 'minor' breach of the 2021 cost cap.

Red Bull suffered a fine of $7 million and a 10% reduction in the aerodynamic testing capability. Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur called it a "very light" punishment. Calling out the FIA, Mercedes driver George Russell has stressed the same point. 

Last year, the FIA released the cost cap investigation findings in October. This year though, the findings would be released earlier as per the governing body. 

Speaking on the matter, Russell said: 

"If anybody has breached any regulation you want the punishment to represent the crime.

"I think there were breaches last year and clearly the punishment didn't fit the crime. We don't want to be seeing that happen again, and if it's a second-time offender the punishment should be even greater than perhaps what is a fair punishment, if it's happened two years in a row.

"I trust in the FIA. I think Mohammed [Ben Sulayem, FIA President] is a great force there, as well. They won't be letting anyone get away with anything that happened under their watch so I have faith in them."

George Russell - Mercedes

Teammate Lewis Hamilton has expressed similar concerns. He said:

"It's definitely a concern.

"I mean, there wasn't really a big punishment last time, so there's no real... There will be people that will probably go for it again and know they're just going to get a slap on the wrist."

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said that any breach in the 2022 budget cap would result in sporting sanctions such as points deductions or outright disqualification, instead of financial penalties.

Commenting on the budget cap controversy, the FIA has issued a financial statement: 

"The FIA notes that comments regarding changes to the framing of current and future Formula 1 regulations have recently appeared in the media.

"The FIA stresses that while it welcomes opinions from stakeholders, the regulatory powers over all FIA Championships - including the FIA Formula 1 World Championship - are vested in the FIA.

"Any technical, sporting or financial sanctions and/or amendments to such regulations will follow due process."

While the body has taken note of the concerns, it would be interesting to see the nature of punishment awarded to offenders, in case of any, once the audit process findings are released. 


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