Formula 1's governing body the FIA has unveiled the results of the review into teams' and power unit manufacturers' submissions over 2024 cost cap compliance.
Aston Martin, which had already acknowledged a minor procedural breach in the lead-up to the announcement, has been revealed as the sole entity in breach, with the other nine teams and the five relevant engine manufacturers (Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Red Bull-Ford and Audi) given the all clear.
There had been heavy intrigue in the paddock about whether a more serious breach had taken place somewhere given the FIA's final report had been delayed beyond past precedent. It was issued in September the last two years, and even in the first year of the cost cap reporting, covering the 2021 season, when Red Bull committed an overspend breach, an announcement came earlier in October 2022.
The FIA said the review process spanned seven months. It described the process as "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 [power unit] manufacturers".
It also said Aston Martin's breach was "of a very minor nature".
The published summary of the Accepted Breach Agreement between Aston Martin and F1's Cost Cap Administration corroborated The Race's reporting from earlier this month that the issue laid in Aston Martin "submitting unsigned versions" of the reporting documentation prior to the March 31, 2025 deadline, and only getting the required signature - that of the independent audit firm involved - "at the earliest possible opportunity", which was April 15.
It was recognised that there were "exceptional and unpredictable circumstances" out of the team's control - though details of these circumstances are not disclosed.
The fact Aston Martin neither sought nor gained any advantage in committing this breach, in the eyes of the CCA, was sufficient mitigation to forgo any sanctions beyond it covering the costs of the Accepted Breach Agreement process.
