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The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile or FIA has confirmed in its findings that Red Bull and Aston Martin were found to be in breach of the F1 cost cap rules. While it was already being speculated ever since the Singapore Grand Prix had two squads had perhaps spent more than the permitted $145 million limit in 2021, the formal findings were declared by the sport's governing body only on Monday.
While all teams had been issues their compliance certificates, Red Bull, Aston Martin Racing and Williams failed to get the same. While Aston Martin are in 'Procedural Breach', Red Bull have committed a Procedural Breach as well as a Minor Financial Overspend, as noted by the FIA. Williams, also reportedly made a Procedural Breach in May 2022 but they had it rectified 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," stated the FIA.
"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."
As per the guidelines, the procedural breaches as well as the minor overspend breaches can either be met with a financial penalty or a minor sporting penalty can be imposed on the teams failing to abide by the cost cap.