RACER understands that Aston Martin has entered into an Acknowledgment of Abuse Agreement (ABA) with the FIA for procedural breaches on its 2024 submission while the team awaits the final certificate.
The last two cost cap assessments were finalized in September 2023 and 2024, and the FIA has yet to issue a certificate this year, leading to speculation that there is an anomaly in the latest submissions. It is understood that one aspect of the delay may be related to Aston Martin, with the team forced to submit a report without an auditor’s signature due to extenuating circumstances, and the ultimately signed report received after the deadline.
RACER understands that the FIA was aware of the situation and supported Aston Martin’s position, but it is still officially a procedural breach and will likely be upheld by the ABA.
Suggestions that another team may have breached the cost cap last year have so far been unsubstantiated, with the FIA also refusing to comment on individual allegations.
“The FIA’s Cost Cap Administration is finalizing its review of the 2024 submissions from teams and power unit manufacturers and the results will be announced shortly,” an FIA spokesperson told RACER. “The FIA does not comment on individual submissions by specific teams or power unit manufacturers. In accordance with established practice, the results of the review will be published once the evaluation of all submissions has been completed and finalized.”
There are no plans to reach a final conclusion over the weekend of the Mexico City Grand Prix, with sources saying the aim is for the process to be completed by the next race in Brazil.
