<p>Lewis Hamilton has joined fellow drivers and teams in calling for a strict penalty for breaches of Formula One's cost cap and warned that a "slap on the wrist" would not protect the sport's integrity.</p>.<p>Asked about Red Bull's infringement of the $145 million budget limit last year, as found and reported by the International Motoring Federation (FIA), the seven-time champion said late Thursday he backed the FIA and hoped the right decisions would be made.</p>.<p>Hamilton was thwarted in his bid to land a record eight drivers' title when Max Verstappen of Red Bull passed him in controversial circumstances on the last lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.</p>.<p>Speaking dispassionately about the furore surrounding Red Bull, which has cast a cloud over this weekend's 10th anniversary race celebrations at the Circuit of the Americas, Hamilton focused on the future.</p>.<p>"I do think this sport needs to do something about this in the future," he said.</p>.<p>"If they are relaxed with these rules, all the teams will just go over (budget).</p>.<p>"Spending millions more and only having a slap on the wrist is obviously not going to be great for the sport, they might as well not have a cost cap in the future."</p>.<p>The results of the FIA's financial regulatory audits were issued after the Japanese Grand Prix this month, with Red Bull failing to obtain a certificate of compliance. No details of their reported "minor" breach were given.</p>.<p>Hamilton said he hoped for the "right" outcome as the FIA consider their position and what punishment to hand out to Red Bull.</p>.<p>"There is nothing I can say that will be beneficial," said Hamilton. "it is all an assumption of what may or may not happen. So, I'm not giving it any energy.</p>.<p>"I am just focused on trying to gee up the team, trying to turn this car around and working on things that I can generally control.</p>.<p>"(As to) the integrity of the sport... I do believe Mohammed (Ben Sulayem, the FIA president) and his team will make the right decisions. I have to believe that.</p>.<p>"I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, naturally."</p>
<p>Lewis Hamilton has joined fellow drivers and teams in calling for a strict penalty for breaches of Formula One's cost cap and warned that a "slap on the wrist" would not protect the sport's integrity.</p>.<p>Asked about Red Bull's infringement of the $145 million budget limit last year, as found and reported by the International Motoring Federation (FIA), the seven-time champion said late Thursday he backed the FIA and hoped the right decisions would be made.</p>.<p>Hamilton was thwarted in his bid to land a record eight drivers' title when Max Verstappen of Red Bull passed him in controversial circumstances on the last lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.</p>.<p>Speaking dispassionately about the furore surrounding Red Bull, which has cast a cloud over this weekend's 10th anniversary race celebrations at the Circuit of the Americas, Hamilton focused on the future.</p>.<p>"I do think this sport needs to do something about this in the future," he said.</p>.<p>"If they are relaxed with these rules, all the teams will just go over (budget).</p>.<p>"Spending millions more and only having a slap on the wrist is obviously not going to be great for the sport, they might as well not have a cost cap in the future."</p>.<p>The results of the FIA's financial regulatory audits were issued after the Japanese Grand Prix this month, with Red Bull failing to obtain a certificate of compliance. No details of their reported "minor" breach were given.</p>.<p>Hamilton said he hoped for the "right" outcome as the FIA consider their position and what punishment to hand out to Red Bull.</p>.<p>"There is nothing I can say that will be beneficial," said Hamilton. "it is all an assumption of what may or may not happen. So, I'm not giving it any energy.</p>.<p>"I am just focused on trying to gee up the team, trying to turn this car around and working on things that I can generally control.</p>.<p>"(As to) the integrity of the sport... I do believe Mohammed (Ben Sulayem, the FIA president) and his team will make the right decisions. I have to believe that.</p>.<p>"I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, naturally."</p>