The FIA has finally released the results of its review into the 2024 Formula 1 cost cap. After looking at all the teams and engine manufacturers, only Aston Martin was found to have a small mistake. All the other nine teams and all five engine manufacturers, including Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Red Bull Ford and Audi, were fully within the rules.

There had been a lot of talk in the paddock that a bigger team might have broken the rules, because the FIA report was later than usual. In previous years, the report came out in September, but this year it was delayed, and some people thought there might have been a serious overspend.

In the end, it was nothing major. Aston Martin’s problem was a paperwork issue. The FIA explained, “Although Aston Martin Racing has been found to be in procedural breach, it has not exceeded the cost-cap level, and the procedural breach was of a very minor nature, originated by unpredictable circumstances outside the control of the F1 team.”

The mistake happened because the person responsible for signing the final documents was unwell at the deadline. The team had finished all the accounts on time and did not spend over the limit, but the final signed paperwork was late. The FIA added, “Aston Martin did not gain or seek to gain any advantage from the commission of the procedural breach at issue.”

Aston Martin acted openly and cooperated fully with the FIA. The breach was officially recorded as a procedural breach, and the team entered an accepted breach agreement to resolve the matter. No financial or sporting penalties were given. The only cost for Aston Martin was covering the FIA’s expenses for preparing the agreement.

So after months of rumours and speculation, the results were clear. The FIA confirmed: “Nine F1 teams found in compliance for 2024, and Procedural Breach identified for AMR GP Ltd.” Everything else was fine, and no other team or engine manufacturer had broken the cost cap.