One Formula 1 team has accepted a 'procedural' breach of the 2024 cost cap regulations, it has been reported - while another team face a potentially significant sanction.
The cost cap for the past three seasons has stood at $135 million, down from $140 million from the most recent cycle up until the end of 2022.
It covers various areas including car development, manufacturing and team salaries - except for the top three highest-paid staff in the team and excluding the two drivers.
The FIA traditionally announces whether teams have complied with the previous season's cost cap in early September each year.
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There has been growing speculation over recent days that there may have been violations, given that the FIA are yet to issue compliance certificates.
And according to PlanetF1, Aston Martin have accepted a 'procedural' breach of the cost cap.
Fortunately for the Silverstone-based team, the breach is understood to relate to a missing signature from an auditor which was out of the team's control, and could not be provided until after the cost cap deadline.
It is also understood that the team remained in dialogue with the FIA throughout and resolved the issue in a timely and transparent manner.
The team have drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll under contract for 2026 and have been tipped to have one of the stronger cars on the grid, with it being the first to be designed by new technical director Adrian Newey.
It is understood that the team
Notably, however, the same report claims that another of the nine remaining F1 teams is alleged to have incurred a 'substantial' breach of the cost cap.
While any potential punishment would not affect the unnamed team for the rest of the 2025 season, it could have a big impact moving forwards.
In October 2022, Red Bull were handed a $7 million fine and a restriction on car development time after they exceeded the cap by $2.2m in the 2021 season.
Crucially, that was described as a 'minor' breach - meaning it is unclear as to how significant the punishment for a 'substantial' breach, if found to be the case, would be.
What have the FIA said?
The FIA released a statement late on Thursday ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, which takes place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday.
While they did not make reference to any 'individual submissions made by specific teams', the sport's governing body confirmed they are still reviewing cost cap submissions.
"The FIA's Cost Cap Administration is in the process of finalising the review of the 2024 submissions from Teams and Power Unit Manufacturers, the result of which is expected to be communicated shortly," the FIA have stated.
"The FIA does not comment on individual submissions made by specific Teams and/or Power Unit Manufacturers and, as per established practice, the results of the review will be made public once assessment of all submissions are completed and finalised."
Ryan Smart