The FIA has finally released the results of its 2024 Formula 1 cost cap review — and while all teams are now in the clear, the delay in publishing the findings has left the paddock buzzing. The governing body confirmed on October 28 that all 10 F1 teams and five power unit (PU) manufacturers have been reviewed, with only Aston Martin found to have committed a minor procedural breach.
The review, which usually concludes by September, took nearly seven months this time. According to the FIA, the extended timeline was due to the “complexity of the financial regulations” and the detailed scrutiny required for technical development costs and accounting treatments.
The final report confirmed that Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, Alpine, Williams, Alfa Romeo/Kick Sauber, Haas, and RB (formerly AlphaTauri) all complied fully with the financial regulations. Likewise, all PU manufacturers — Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Red Bull Ford, and Audi — were deemed compliant.
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Aston Martin’s minor breach: a paperwork issue
Aston Martin was the only team cited for a breach, but the FIA described it as a “very minor procedural deficiency.” The issue stemmed from the team’s failure to obtain signatures from an independent auditor on time before submitting its draft financial statements by the March 31, 2025 deadline.
The FIA’s Cost Cap Administration (CCA) clarified that Aston faced “exceptional and unforeseen circumstances entirely outside the team’s control,” preventing it from completing the required documentation on schedule. The team submitted the corrected version with the proper signatures just two weeks later, on April 15.
Importantly, the FIA concluded that Aston Martin’s total expenditure remained below the cost cap and that the procedural lapse offered no financial or sporting advantage. As a result, the team signed an “Accepted Breach Agreement” (ABA) with the FIA on September 29, admitting the violation and agreeing to cover the administrative costs of the review — but no sporting or financial penalties were imposed.
A long wait raises eyebrows
The unusually late publication of the report — well past the Mexican Grand Prix weekend — had stirred up speculation that one or more teams were facing serious infractions. In previous years, the FIA’s findings were released far earlier: September for 2022 and 2023, and early October in 2022 for the 2021 season, when Red Bull’s overspend triggered major controversy.
The FIA defended the extended process, saying the detailed nature of the financial reviews, combined with the introduction of new PU-related accounting complexities, justified the delay. Still, the timing has raised questions about transparency and consistency in how financial compliance is handled across the grid.
Stability heading into 2025
While this year’s report ultimately avoided the drama of 2022’s Red Bull overspend saga, the delay underscores how intricate the financial policing of Formula 1 has become. With the cost cap now an established part of the sport’s framework, maintaining consistent auditing standards will be critical as the 2026 regulations — including new power units and expanded cost categories — come into effect.
For now, the clean bill of health is a relief for the teams and a positive sign for the FIA’s financial control system, even if the slow release left fans and insiders guessing for weeks.
