Lewis Hamilton has insisted that he is not giving much attention to the allegations that Red Bull breached F1's cost cap in 2021, though has advised that any possible breaking of the rules should be "taken seriously". Both Red Bull and Aston Martin have been subject to rumours that they may have broken the $145 million budget cap set for teams for last year's campaign, with the FIA set to reveal each team's finances in the coming weeks after audits. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has called any breach of the Formula 1 cost cap regulations a "heavyweight" offence , while Ferrari Sporting Director Laurent Mekies has said there should be "far-reaching consequences" for any team that breaches it. Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has since hit back at what he labelled "unacceptable" accusations , and suggested that allegations from the team's rivals were also a smokescreen to detract from those outfits' below-par performances in 2022.
Hamilton reacts to cost cap "whispers"
Hamilton was memorably involved in a close championship battle with Verstappen throughout 2021, with the title eventually going in the Dutchman's favour in the controversial final laps of the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. When asked for his reaction to the allegations against Red Bull – and to the possibility, however slim, of the outcome of last year's World Championship changing – Hamilton explained that he is not focused much on the rumours. "I'm not really giving it much attention, to be honest," Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365.com , at the Singapore Grand Prix. "It's all whispers at the moment, I don't know enough about it to be able to make a sensible comment. I'm not thinking particularly anything. "I'm proud of my team for the diligence that they've done to run to the rules. "And I honestly, I have full confidence in Mohammed [Ben Sulayem, FIA President] in the way that he's conducted himself to this point and in terms of being strict and being clear with the rules."
Hamilton stresses that any issues must be "taken seriously"
While Hamilton has not looked closely at the allegations, he has stressed the importance of investigating anything that can potentially affect car performance. "The rules are rules and for those sort of things, which can lead to real alterations in terms of car performance, those sorts of things, we definitely have to take it seriously," the seven-time World Champion explained. "But as I said, I don't know if it's true or not so we'll see."
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