Ferrari and Mercedes meet for further talks as Hamilton may be handed Verstappen’s title | F1 | Sports

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has been spotted entering Mercedes hospitality center for what could be secret talks about Red Bull. Binotto was captured walking into Mercedes’ building just an hour before the start of the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Ferrari team principal emerged from the Silver Arrows base half an hour later. Binotto and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff spoke for an hour on Friday as claims that Red Bull had breached the cost cap emerged.

Auto Motor und Sport suggested Red Bull’s competitors “feel cheated” if the rumors are true. The German newspaper reported the team spent £9million ($10m) more than the cap limit.

This would be higher than the five per cent allowance for a minor punishment meaning Red Bull could face tough sanctions. This could include being docked world championship points in a blow to Max Verstappen, which could lead to Lewis Hamilton being reinstated as the 2021 champion.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen lays down the law to Christian Horner and Red Bull

Ferrari race director Laurent Mekkies has called for the team to receive the “maximum penalty” if Red Bull are found guilty after an investigation. Mekkies also suggested an overspend by Red Bull in 2021 could have had an impact on their performance this season and into 2023.

He explained: “Putting penalties to one side, the important aspect is that the FIA ​​can establish that there has been an overspend. Once that has been done, at least then we have confirmation that these are the rules that everyone must abide by.

“After that, the subject of penalties can be discussed in light of the effect of the overspend in 2021, in 2022 and what it will be in 2023, because obviously, at the current time and the point in this season in which we find ourselves , there is also an effect on next season.”

DON’T MISS
Max Verstappen sends aggressive message to Mercedes and Ferrari [INSIGHT]
Lewis Hamilton used as blueprint as Max Verstappen warned of penalty [ANALYSIS]
Christian Horner livid and uses four words to describe allegations [COMMENT]

Red Bull have denied any wrongdoing, stressing the rumors were “just speculation”. However, Red Bull’s Christian Horner fired back at the team’s rivals for getting involved in their finances.

Horner called the comments “defamatory” and said he wasn’t aware they had broken the rules. He added: “What is totally unacceptable is for teams that are not party to any form of the submission to be making claims about our submission, about perspective penalties. It’s just bang out of order.

“Perhaps, when these accusations are made, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. I think it’s an underhand tactic deployed to detract from perhaps a lack of performance on track this year.”