The FIA confirmed after the Japanese Grand Prix that both Aston Martin and Red Bull had breached Formula 1’s financial regulations in 2021.
Although Aston Martin was below the cost limit – unlike Red Bull, which received a fine of 7 million dollars and a reduction in its aerodynamic tests – the FIA explained that those at Silverstone had committed a procedural infraction, which which means he also had to negotiate with F1’s governing body.
In a statement issued on Friday, the FIA said Aston Martin had “wrongly excluded and/or adjusted some expenses in calculating its relevant costs”, including areas such as the costs of its new headquarters, additional tunnel charges wind and costs related to your new simulator.
As a result, Aston Martin has been fined $450,000 (just over €450,000) which must be paid within the next 30 days.
The FIA said there was “no indication or evidence” that Aston Martin had “attempted to act in bad faith, dishonestly or fraudulently” throughout the process.
It also considered that Aston Martin “did not obtain or seek any advantage in the exclusions or erroneous adjustments of certain expenses” in its presentation of the 2021 annual report.
“The Cost Cap Administration considered, in these circumstances, offering Aston Martin an ABA (Accepted Infringement Agreement) to resolve what happened. That means that the controversy is closed, with no mechanism for anyone to appeal.
The expenses that were erroneously excluded or adjusted by Aston Martin are:
- Expenses according to article 3.1(h)(i) of the Financial Regulations (related to the costs of the new headquarters of the Formula 1 team).
- Underestimation of the relevant expenses in relation to article 4.1(b)(ii) (relating to the R&D tax credit).
- Expenses according to article 3.4.
- Expenses according to article 3.1(h)(i) of the Financial Regulations (related to the cost of the new simulator).
- Expenses according to article 3.1(i) of the Financial Regulation (related to certain costs of contracting premiums).
- Underestimation of relevant expenses in relation to article 4.1(a)(ii) of the Financial Regulations (relating to the use of transferable components)
- Understatement of relevant expenses in relation to Article 4.1(f)(i)(B) of the Financial Regulations (relating to used inventories)
- Expenses according to articles 3.1(h)(i) and 3.1(i) of the Financial Regulation (related to the costs of service counters)
- Expenses in accordance with article 3.1(i) of the Financial Regulations (related to the cost of catering services provided to staff in the factory).
- Expenses according to article 3.1(i) of the Financial Regulations (related to the cost of desks and chairs).
- Underestimation of relevant expenses in relation to article 4.1(h) of the Financial Regulations (relating to unrecorded costs and losses in relation to the expense of services provided by the sponsors).
- Expenses according to article 3.1(j) of the Financial Regulations (related to the cost of services provided by subcontracted personnel).
