ASTON MARTIN ESCAPE SANCTIONS AFTER 'VERY MINOR' F1 COST CAP BREACH

Formula One F1 - Mexico Grand Prix - Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico - October 24, 2025 Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso during practice REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

LONDON - Aston Martin committed a "very minor" procedural breach of Formula One's cost cap regulations last year due to exceptional circumstances but will face no penalties, the sport's governing body said on Tuesday.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said the other nine teams and five engine manufacturers were all in compliance, despite speculation last week that a more substantial breach might be announced.

The FIA said the breach, involving a failure to submit signed versions of its audited annual financial statements by a March deadline, was due to unpredictable circumstances outside the team's control.

Significantly, Aston Martin had not exceeded the cost cap level.

The Silverstone-based team had acted cooperatively and in good faith, added the FIA, entering an Accepted Breach Agreement last month to resolve the matter.

"The Cost Cap Administration confirm that there is no accusation or evidence that AMR has sought or obtained any undue advantage as a result of the breach," the FIA said.

Speculation about a team being in breach of the cost cap had mounted after the FIA was late publishing the accounts for the 2024 season.

Confirmation of teams' compliance had come much earlier in previous years. 

- REUTERS

TOTO WOLFF: MERCEDES IN 'SERIOUS TROUBLE' WITH F1 COST CAP AMID RECENT CRASHES

George Russell's latest crash has put Mercedes in danger with F1's budget cap

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has conceded George Russell’s FP2 crash at the Mexico City Grand Prix has placed the team in “serious trouble” with Formula 1‘s cost cap.

Russell’s participation in the second practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was curtailed when his car became unsettled over the kerb in the esses.

The Briton was pitched into a high-speed spin which sent him careering towards the barrier at Turn 9, granting the Mercedes mechanics a comprehensive repair build.

Russell’s incident marked his second in under a week as he also slammed into the wall in qualifying in the United States, costing him the side’s latest update package.

Those two episodes succeeded Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will partner Russell in 2025, sustaining a vast impact on his maiden FP1 appearance at Monza last month.

With crash damage contributing to each side’s budget cap allowance, Wolff is worried recent events could have a bearing on Mercedes remaining under the threshold.

“I think we can keep the old chassis, but everything else has to go out,” Wolff explained to Sky Germany.

“The engine has to come out, the gearbox has to be checked and then everything else. Two corners of the car are completely gone. So it’s serious damage.

“We’re in serious trouble. We are all struggling to stay within the budget cap and of course we had a bad accident with Kimi at Monza.

“Then the second one with George last week [in Austin] and now again this week.”

Russell’s participation not in doubt

Russell’s touch with the barrier was recorded at 35G and mandated a trip to the FIA medical centre, but he was cleared and is set to continue competing this weekend.

“[It was] 35G,” Wolff divulged. “So that was a really big impact. He was taken to the medical centre, but he’s okay.

“But of course, the car is badly damaged… but we have the [spare] parts.”

- Taylor Powling