Ferrari's Carlos Sainz has called for any potential Formula 1 cost cap breach penalty to "take away [the] appetite" for teams to overspend. In the recent auditing process, the FIA found that Red Bull were the only team to breach the $145 million cost cap - with RacingNews365.com understanding the breach to be in the region of £1.8 million - and an offer to settle has been made. Red Bull remain adamant no breach has occurred. Speaking ahead of the United States Grand Prix, Sainz believes any potential penalty must be a deterrent for the future breaches.
Sainz calls on FIA for strict penalty
"I think every team and driver just wants clarity first of all," he explained to media, including RacingNews365.com "Secondly, [we want] fairness. We all know how much one-two-three-four million can make on car development and speed in Formula 1. "That's why years ago, the top three teams were spending $350 million, and now we are spending $150 million to keep these things under control. "I just hope that if there is a penalty, it is relatively important to take the appetite away from overspending two or three million on next year's car because you think it is worth it. "It just needs to be clear for everyone. "If there is a cost cap, it is there to be followed and I just hope the FIA takes the right decisions to make sure that everyone follows it."
Bottas: 'Rules are rules'
The cost cap regulations do allow for a potential points deduction to be made in the event of a breach, although this is deemed unlikely for 2021 champion Max Verstappen. Any points loss would hand rival Lewis Hamilton the 2021 crown, a season which was already decided in controversial circumstances at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Valtteri Bottas, who was part of the Mercedes team in Abu Dhabi before joining Alfa Romeo, echoed Sainz's thoughts, and added that "We missed the Drivers' title by a few points, and a few million [extra] can make a big, big difference."
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