The FIA announced after the Japanese Grand Prix that Aston Martin and Red Bull breached financial regulations for 2021 after completing their audits.
Although Aston Martin was under the cost cap last year – unlike Red Bull, which was fined $7 million and reduced aero testing on Friday – the FIA felt it had committed a breach of procedure, meaning she had to start talks with the F1 government. body about an accepted breach agreement.
In a statement released on Friday morning, the FIA explained that Aston Martin had “inaccurately excluded and/or adjusted costs in calculating its relevant costs”, including areas such as the costs of its new headquarters, additional wind tunnel costs and costs related to its new F1 simulator.
As a result, Aston Martin has been fined $450,000 which must be paid within the next 30 days.
The FIA said there was “no accusation or evidence” that Aston Martin had “sought at any time to act in bad faith, dishonesty or fraudulently” throughout the process.
He also found that Aston Martin “did not take or seek to take advantage of the inaccurate exclusions or adjustments of certain costs” in its bid.
“The Cost Cap Administration has deemed it appropriate, in the circumstances, to offer Aston Martin an ABA to resolve this matter on the terms set out below, having regard to the limited nature of the breach at issue and the AMR’s willingness to accept the breach and cooperate with the Cost Cap Administration,” the statement added, which led to the offer being accepted.
This means the case is now closed, with no mechanism in place for any appeal or action to be taken by Aston Martin.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing press conference
Photo by: FIA Pool
According to the FIA statement, the costs that had been incorrectly excluded or adjusted by Aston Martin were:
1. Costs in accordance with Article 3.1(h)(i) of the Financial Regulations (regarding costs relating to the new F1 team headquarters)
2. Understatement of relevant costs under the provision in Article 4.1(b)(ii) (regarding the R&D tax credit)
3. Costs under Article 3.1(h)(i) of the Financial Regulations (regarding the costs relating to the new F1 simulator)
4. Cost under Financial Regulation 3.1(o) (regarding additional wind tunnel fees)
5. Cost in accordance with Financial Regulation 3.1(i) (regarding certain signing bonus costs)
6. Understatement of relevant costs under the provisions set out in Financial Regulation 4.1(a)(ii) (regarding the use of Transferable Items)
7. Understatement of relevant costs compared to the provision set out in Financial Regulation 4.1(f)(i)(B) (regarding second-hand inventory)
8. Charges in accordance with Articles 3.1(h)(i) and 3.1(i) of the Financial Regulations (regarding service desk charges)
9. Cost in accordance with Financial Regulation 3.1(i) (regarding the cost of catering services provided to staff at their factory headquarters)
10. Cost in accordance with Financial Regulation 3.1 (i) (regarding the cost of desks and chairs)
11. Understatement of relevant costs under the provisions set out in Financial Regulation 4.1(h) (regarding unrecorded costs and losses relating to the cost of services rendered by sponsors)
12. Cost in accordance with Financial Regulation 3.1(j) (regarding the cost of services rendered by outsourced staff)
