F1 on High Alert as FIA Delays Cost Cap Rulings, Possible Penalties

• For Max Verstappen to win the Formula 1 championship this weekend in Japan, he needs to outscore Charles Leclerc by eight points, and Sergio Perez by six.

• With Verstappen's destiny as a backdrop, teams await the FIA's ruling on possible budget cap violations.

• Teams have a $145 million budget, not counting several exemptions that include driver salaries. The penalty for going over the cap is not so clear.

This weekend’s Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix could see a F1 champion crowned – yet most eyes are on what will, or rather should, happen on Monday, not Sunday.

Max Verstappen stands on the brink of his second world title and must outscore Charles Leclerc by eight points, and Sergio Perez by six, to clinch this year’s championship on Sunday. It is an eminent possibility due to the performance displayed by Verstappen and the Red Bull RB18 on high-downforce flowing circuits, such as Suzuka, so far in 2022.

“It would make it a little bit extra special, because of our relationship with Honda,” said Verstappen, on the notion of clinching the title at Suzuka, which is owned by Honda.

“It was a shame that we couldn't be here last year, in the title fight. So that’s why we are really looking forward to being back here. We’ll see what happens. We need a perfect weekend, that's for sure.”

As for the Cap...

One of the main talking points in the F1 paddock at Suzuka, remains last year’s financial results.

A report emerged in Singapore that two teams—thought to be Red Bull and Aston Martin— had exceeded the spending limit for 2021.

The FIA was due to issue cost cap certificates to the teams that met the regulations on Wednesday, but did not do so, outlining in a statement that "the analysis of financial submissions is a long and complex process that is ongoing."

Instead, the FIA plans to finalize its reports to enable the release of the certificates on Monday.

Several leading drivers have called for sanctions for any team that has been found guilty of exceeding the spending cap.

“I think we need to continue to have transparency for the fans, for the integrity of the sport,” said Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. “I don't really know enough about it. I know obviously there's lots of conversations that are going on in the background. No one truly knows. There's different numbers and different things being said here and there, so I was expecting those results to come out yesterday.

“I would like to think that if it's been delayed it's because it's been taken very seriously and I trust that (FIA president) Mohamed (bin Sulayem) is taking it seriously and will do what is right for the sport, I hope. I think it would be bad for the sport if action wasn't taken if there was a breach, but I don't know if there is so I'll wait just as you will.”

Hamilton pointed to the intense nature of his 2021 title fight with Verstappen, which was concluded in controversial circumstances on the final lap, as reason for strict policing of the cap.

“I remember last year as a driver, you were always asking for updates, updates, updates on things, whether it's fuel, whatever it is,” Hamilton said. “I remember in Silverstone when we got our last update and I remember that was almost three tenths, I think that update, and I'm pretty certain it cost less than a million.

"But I remember after that needing more updates, but then seeing trucks...updates continuing to arrive on the other car, thinking jeez, it's going to be hard to beat them in the championship if they keep bringing updates. It's so integral to development, the development race and if we had another half a million to spend we would have been in a different position at some of the following races if we were just bought another floor which we could have easily done but that's not the name of the game.”

Hamilton’s teammate George Russell outlined that “we know we can bring more performance to the table if we had more money to spend, and it’s as simple as that. I trust in Mohammed and the FIA to bring an appropriate punishment for anyone who’s found guilty of the charges accused. It should be quite straightforward and you’d expect that the amount that’s gone over should be the amount that’s taken off for next year’s budget, and probably a bit more on top of that, as a punishment. But let’s wait and see.”

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc said that “speaking about ourselves of course if we have more to spend you will go faster on track. So if there’s any team found guilty of that they should be punished. Then what’s the punishment? I’m not the one to decide, but for sure it should be punished.”

Leclerc's Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz quipped that Red Bull has been developing “more than we expected you could do on a budget cap situation”—though did not imply wrongdoing—and called for penalties if breaches have been found.

“I’ve no idea if Red Bull have jumped it (the limit); I just hope if they have they get a penalty according to the infringement,” Sainz said. “We all know how development is in F1—it’s everything, the core of F1—so for sure if you jump that rule for sure there needs to be a high penalty, but to be honest, I don’t read the FIA rule books, it’s other people in my team that do so.”