- All is not lost for Lewis Hamilton as he stands a chance to be awarded the 2021 F1 world championship
- This comes as Red Bull retroactively plans to challenge the auditing verdict by FIA
- Max Verstappen got the title in controversial circumstances
All is not lost for Lewis Hamilton as he stands a chance to be awarded the 2021 F1 world championship that went to Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
This comes as Red Bull retroactively plans to challenge the auditing verdict that they went over their budget cap last year. The outcome of the championship race from last year raised controversy when Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the penultimate lap and won the race.
The controversy was that former racing director Michael Masi handed Verstappen an undeserving win during the Safety Car period.
Mercedes agreed to the FIA’s decision earlier this year after Masi was fired as sporting director and assurances were given that the situation wouldn’t recur. But in light of the FIA’s most recent filing on the budget cap from last year, the outcome of the championship is now being questioned once more.
Lewis Hamilton first win ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix. Photo/ Mark Thompson/Getty Images
It was revealed that Red Bull was in “minor” violation of the £114 million cap, which might result in penalties including financial penalties. The Christian Horner team may even have a possible point deduction.
The Daily Mail reports that Horner will use this week’s United States Grand Prix to argue his side; Red Bull has challenged the decision.
Red Bull and the FIA are said to have had “little” communication since the news became public. However, Horner was reportedly informed of the breach just an hour after Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix and was named the 2022 world champion.
The Milton Keynes-based team is reportedly confident that any budgetary violations from the previous year had nothing to do with performance and were all connected to “non-track issues.”
The FIA has not yet decided on a penalty since Red Bull is yet to accept the agreed breach agreement (ABA). They can either accept the FIA’s auditing findings or appeal the decision through the Cost Cap Adjudication panel.
Red Bull will be admitting guilt, and it is still possible that they will be punished if they accept that they were in violation. According to reports, Red Bull could receive a harsher penalty if they decide to contest the infraction.
Verstappen’s title victory in 2021 would allegedly be in jeopardy, giving Hamilton a chance to be recognised as the world champion in the past.
In February, right before the 2022 season began, requested that F1 ban favouritism from stewarding in order to ensure that judgments made this season are of the highest calibre.
Lewis Hamilton is not competing to win in 2022. Photo/Planet F1
Hamilton expressed his zeal for more impartiality and female officials in the sport after a contentious season finale in which Verstappen won the Formula One championship.
He thinks that some former drivers may still be connected to some of the present drivers, which could create conflicts of interest.
“I think we need people who have no bias when it comes to making decisions. I want to see more women in the stewards’ room,” he stated.
“I don’t think we have many, I think last year it was maybe one or two. I think it would be awesome for them to have a male and female as the two race directors,” he noted.
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