Valtteri Bottas says he hopes Red Bull will be delivered a penalty that “hurts” after the FIA found it had breached last year’s budget cap.
Red Bull was found guilty of a “minor” overspend of the cost quota, which is set at $145 million.
The amount that it exceeded it by could be as high as $7m, with a minor breach considered to be less than five per cent.
Red Bull has asserted that its accounts were below the cap, and on Thursday, it was reported that the FIA made the energy drink-backed outfit an offer.
However, Bottas has backed the FIA to come down hard on Red Bull to set a clear precedent.
“The rules are the rules and if you don’t follow them, there should be a penalty that really hurts,” Botta said.
“Personally I hope that it’s going to be a strict and harsh penalty because that shouldn’t happen. The rules are the rules.
“There’s many rules in F1 and this should be no different in terms of the penalty. Let’s hope that it’s a good penalty that really hurts them, because I was in the fight last year for the Constructors’ [with Mercedes].
“Yes, we got that but we missed the Drivers’ title by a few points and a few millions can make a big, big difference.”
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is also keen to see Red Bull be handed a strong penalty to stop teams from abusing the system.
“I think every team and every driver we want clarity first of all and secondly fairness,” he said.
“We all know how much one, two three four million, I don’t know what’s the number, can make to car development and car speed in F1.
“Five years ago, everyone was spending $350m, or the top teams were spending $350m. Now we’re spending $150m to get these things under control.
“I just hope that if there’s a penalty, the penalty is relatively important to take the appetite away from overspending two or three million to waste on next year’s car, because you think next year’s car is worth it more than the other year, and then you take a penalty for it.
“I think it needs to be fair play for everyone and if there’s a cost cap it’s there to be followed. I hope that the FIA takes the right decision to make sure everyone follows it.”
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