FIA confirms nine teams in compliance with F1 cost cap

The FIA has confirmed nine of the 10 teams were in compliance with the cost cap in 2024, with only Aston Martin cited for a procedural breach “of a very minor nature”.

As reported last week, Aston Martin accepted it had failed to submit audited accounts by the 31 March deadline due to extenuating circumstances, with unaudited accounts received by the FIA prior to the deadline. The team did not exceed the cost cap level, and entered into an Accepted Breach Agreement (ABA) with the FIA at the end of September.

The delay in confirming the compliance of the remaining teams since then had led to speculation that a further team was in breach, but the FIA says the complex nature of the process – that also includes the financial regulations relating to all 2026 power unit manufacturers – took longer than the previous years.

“The review of the Reporting Documentation was a very thorough and intensive process spanning seven months,” an FIA statement read.

“FIA confirms that the review process is particularly time consuming considering both the complexities of the Financial Regulations and the necessity to assess technical aspects (and related cost treatment) of activities of development undertaken by F1 teams and PU manufacturers.

“The FIA confirms that all F1 teams and all PU manufacturers gave their full support in providing the required information. The Cost Cap Administration notes that all F1 teams and all PU manufacturers acted at all times in a spirit of good faith and co-operation throughout the process.”

The cost cap was first introduced in 2021, with the intention to limit spending in F1 “to ensure the long-term viability of the championship and encourage convergence in performance between Competitors, thus creating more exciting racing”. The latest reporting period runs up until 31 December 2024, with accounts submitted three months later.

All five power unit manufacturers – Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull Powertrains, Honda and Audi – were also found to be in compliance with the relevant financial regulations.