Lewis Hamilton says the future of the budget cap in Formula One is dependent on the punishment that is dished out to Red Bull for their breach in 2021.

The FIA confirmed Red Bull had committed a "minor" breach of the $145million (£114m) cap last year and has submitted an "accepted breach agreement" to the team.

That proposal, which is confidential, outlines the penalty that the FIA will hand to Red Bull if they accept the cap, although they could fight the judgement and send the matter to an adjudication panel.

With 2021 having been the first season of the budget cap's implementation, there is uncertainty over what action the FIA will take and Hamilton believes the regulations will be pointless if no serious consequences result.

"If they are relaxed with these rules, all the teams will just go over," he told the BBC.

"Spending millions more and only having a slap on the wrist is not going to be great for the sport. They might as well not have a cost cap in the future."

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Hamilton, however, is confident that the FIA will tread the right path with the punishment issued.

"The integrity of the sport is where the decisions hopefully will be made," he added.

"I do believe Mohammed [ben Sulayem, the FIA president] and his team will make the right decisions, I have to believe that. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. What they [Red Bull] have done is done."

Max Verstappen, who clinched a second consecutive Formula 1 title last time out in Japan, said ahead of the United States Grand Prix that Red Bull remain confident they were within the parameters of the cap.

He said: "It is between the team and the FIA, and from our side we have a strong belief that we were in it, so that's why we are discussing with them about it to show what we think is right."