Earlier today news emerged that two teams were found to have reportedly breached the cost cap regulations. Aston Martin F1 Team have come forth and accepted a procedural breach of Formula 1’s 2024 cost cap regulations following a documentation delay caused by circumstances beyond its control.
The Silverstone-based team missed the 31 March deadline to submit its fully audited financial statements after its auditor, due to “extenuating circumstances beyond the team’s control,” failed to provide a required signature. However, Aston Martin had completed its accounts on time and later re-filed the documents. But, the delay still constituted a procedural breach under Article 8 of the FIA’s Financial Regulations.
The team has now entered into an Accepted Breach Agreement (ABA) with the sport’s governing body. This was introduced to resolve minor procedural violations without lengthy adjudication.
Crucially, the breach involves no actual overspending. Aston Martin remained well within the $135 million cost cap limit for 2024. The penalty reflects only the administrative inconvenience caused by the late submission. According to Motorsport.com, the team acted in good faith throughout the process, a factor that significantly influenced the FIA’s leniency.
“It is understood that Aston Martin has otherwise complied with the 2024 cost cap itself, and as it acted in good faith the squad’s penalty is limited to a fine covering the additional paperwork.”
The FIA’s regulations allow the Cost Cap Administration considerable discretion when handling procedural breaches. Article 6 of the Financial Regulations explains how the FIA proposes and enforces sanctions. It considers both aggravating and mitigating circumstances when assessing each case. In Aston Martin’s case, the mitigating factors clearly outweighed any concerns about procedural compliance.
FIA outlines ABA process amid ongoing probe
FIA Formula 1 Financial Regulations state in their Article 6.28 and 6.32 that:
“If the Cost Cap Administration determines that an F1 Team has committed a Procedural Breach or a Minor Overspend Breach, the Cost Cap Administration may propose sanctions for such breach, which should be based on the same factors, including aggravating and mitigating factors, that the Cost Cap Adjudication Panel would take into account under these Financial Regulations for such breach pursuant to Article 8.”
The ABA process allows teams to accept responsibility and proposed sanctions without the right of appeal.
“If the F1 Team accepts the breach and the proposed sanctions the Cost Cap Administration may enter into an accepted breach agreement (an ‘ABA’) with the F1 Team reflecting the acceptance. There shall be no right of appeal in respect of any decision by the Cost Cap Administration as to whether to enter into an ABA or not.”
At least one unnamed team faces scrutiny over a potentially substantial cost cap violation, with sources suggesting the breach could be material rather than procedural. The FIA typically issues compliance certificates by early September, yet no team has received official clearance for the 2024 season as of late October 2025.
FIA remains discreet on breaches
The governing body has maintained its usual discretion regarding individual cases. In a statement, the FIA confirmed:
“The FIA’s Cost Cap Administration is in the process of finalising the review of the 2024 submissions from Teams and Power Unit Manufacturers, the result of which is expected to be communicated shortly.”
The statement continued:
“The FIA does not comment on individual submissions made by specific Teams and/or Power Unit Manufacturers and, as per established practice, the results of the review will be made public once assessment of all submissions are completed and finalised.”
For Aston Martin, the matter is closed. The team faces no sporting penalties, points deductions, or development restrictions. The fine covers only administrative costs incurred by the FIA during its review. This is far less severe than the consequences for actual overspending. Teams found guilty could face championship point deductions, wind tunnel time restrictions, or even exclusion from competition.
Alpine and Honda too were found to have breached the procedures of the Cost Cap in 2023. The last team found guilty of overspending was Red Bull in 2021. The FIA fined them $7 million and cut 10% of their allocated wind tunnel time. There have been no recent updates on the identity of the other team. The FIA is remaining tight‑lipped on the matter.
The FIA is known for scrutinising every detail during a cost cap audit, even WhatsApp chats. They apply the same thorough approach to all teams. Similar efforts will be used with the other team that breached the cost cap.
Formula 1’s cost cap will rise from $135 million to $215 million in 2026. The increase accounts for inflation and newly included expenses such as sprint events and capital costs. The FIA says this ensures fairness amid major 2026 regulation changes.
