Red Bull and Aston Martin break F1 cost cap rules

Every F1 team has been issued with the official compliance certificate – which shows they adhered to all the rules – with Red Bull, Aston Martin and Williams all having theirs withheld.

Aston Martin is said to have committed a “procedural” breach of the rules while the FIA believes Red Bull committed both a procedural and a minor overspend breach.

The rules, introduced for 2021, allow teams to spend a maximum of $145 million during the year, with two separate categories for overspends. Red Bull’s is counted as “minor” which means that it was by less than 5%, or $7.25 million.

Williams’ issues were related to the team filing its submission later, for which the team has already been fined $25,000, while Aston Martin’s breach is believed to have been in relation to the filling out of the forms with the submission.

There are various penalties available to the FIA for any overspend breaches, with those for a “minor” overspend including a reprimand, deduction of points from the Drivers’ or Constructors’ championships, exclusion from events, limitations on aero testing or a straightforward fine.

No comment has been made by the FIA yet as to how Aston Martin or Red Bull’s alleged offences will be dealt with and the teams will have the right to appeal.

According to the statement released by the FIA: “Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team is considered to be in Procedural Breach of the Financial Regulations.

“Oracle Red Bull Racing is considered to be in Procedural and Minor Overspend Breaches of the Financial Regulations.

“Williams Racing has complied with the Financial Regulations in respect of the 2021 Reporting Period with the exception of a previous Procedural Breach in regard to which the Cost Cap Administration entered into an ABA with Williams in May 2022. This Procedural Breach was then remediated by Williams in a timely, cooperative and transparent manner.

“The review of the Reporting Documentation submitted has been an intensive and thorough process, and all Competitors gave their full support in providing the required information to assess their financial situation during this first year of the Financial Regulations. The FIA Cost Cap Administration notes that all Competitors acted at all times in a spirit of good faith and cooperation throughout the process.

“The FIA would also note that with respect to this first year of the application of the Financial Regulations the intervention of the FIA Cost Cap Administration has been limited to reviewing the submissions made by the Competitors and that no full formal investigations were launched.

“The FIA Cost Cap Administration is currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken under the Financial Regulations with respect to Aston Martin and Red Bull and further information will be communicated in compliance with the Regulations.”

No comment has been made by the FIA yet as to how Aston Martin or Red Bull’s alleged offences will be dealt with and the teams will have the right to appeal or enter into "a settlement referred to as an Accepted Breach Agreement".

A statement from Red Bull said: "We note the findings by the FIA of ‘motor overspend breaches of the financial regulations’ with surprise and disappointment.

"Our 2021 submission was below the cost cap limit, so we need to carefully review the FIA’s findings as our belief remains that the relevant costs are under the 2021 cost cap amount.

"Despite the conjecture and positioning of others there is of course a process under the regulations with the FIA which we will respectfully follow while we consider all the options available to us."

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.