Both Alpine and Honda will each pay a fine to the Formula 1 governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), as they were in “procedural breach” of the Power Unit Financial Regulations.
However, the FIA has also stated that neither Alpine or Honda acted “in bad faith, dishonestly or in a fraudulent manner.”
They were both in “procedural breach” but did not exceed the spending limit of $140.4 million.
The Cost Cap Administration executed the first ever evaluation under the Power Unit Financial Regulations when the six power unit producers registered to provide engines for 2026 onwards and submitted the mandatory documentation.
Following the evaluation, it was discovered that Alpine Racing SAS and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) committed a “procedural breach,” and are now in an “Accepted Breach Agreement (ABA)” with the FIA.
According to the FIA’s statement published Tuesday, Alpine breached: “Articles 8.1, 8.2(d) and 8.2(e) of the Power Unit Financial Regulations in delaying the exercise by the Cost Cap Administration of its regulatory function and in submitting reporting documentation in respect of the 2023 reporting period that was inaccurate by omitting relevant information.”
Furthermore, Alpine accepted that the assessment report it submitted to the Cost Cap Administration “contained significant deficiencies” and “several required procedures had not been performed at all, and several other procedures had only been partially completed.”
Alpine has since updated its report. However, it must pay $400,000 to the FIA. It will also pay for the costs incurred by the Cost Cap Administration in connection with the preparation of the ABA.
Honda breached Articles 8.1 and 8.2(e). It failed to “file accurate reporting documentation in respect of the 2023 reporting period, by submitting reporting documentation that included incorrect, excluded and/or adjusted costs in the calculation of its relevant costs.”
Honda will pay $600,000 to the FIA. It will similarly pay for the costs incurred by the Cost Cap Administration in connection with the preparation of the ABA.
The Cost Cap Administration stated that both Alpine and Honda “acted cooperatively and in a spirit of good faith throughout the review process” and that there is no accusation or evidence that they “sought at any time to act in bad faith, dishonestly or in a fraudulent manner” or that they “wilfully concealed any information from the Cost Cap Administration.”
FIA’s official statement also says that neither Alpine or Honda “sought or obtained any undue advantage as a result of the breach” probably mainly because both companies’ “relevant costs” were below the 2023 cost cap level. The full statement and summary of the terms of the ABAs can be found here: https://shorturl.at/OIAi3
Honda currently has a power unit support deal with Red Bull, but it will partner with Aston Martin from 2026. Renault declared that it is going to end Formula 1 engine production after next season due to finances, so the Alpine team are expected to race with Mercedes engines from 2026, although it is not confirmed.
