Honda, Renault face fines for F1 budget cap violations

Honda and Alpine (Renault), two of Formula 1's engine suppliers, could face financial penalties for breaking the budget cap rules last year.

In an official statement, the FIA, the governing body for the sport, confirmed that all teams successfully adhered to the complicated financial regulations during the previous season.

However, since new budget limits now also apply specifically to engine suppliers, both Honda (HRC) and Alpine (Renault) were found to have committed "procedural breaches."

The FIA's statement went on to clarify that "neither have exceeded the cost cap level," and that both companies "acted at all times in good faith and are currently cooperating ... to finalise the matter."

Back in 2021, Red Bull was similarly found to have breached the financial cap and committed procedural violations, which led McLaren's CEO Zak Brown to state that these actions "constitute cheating."

Nevertheless, it seems the FIA will be more lenient with Honda and Alpine this time, due to "the nature of the breach" and the "complexities" surrounding the new regulations related to engine cost caps.

As such, the FIA has proposed to "settle their respective breaches by means of an Accepted Breach Agreement" or ABA.

According to reports from Auto Motor und Sport, this agreement will involve the manufacturers admitting to the breach, giving up the right to appeal, and accepting the penalties.

"It is difficult to say how severe the sanctions will be," Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner explained.

"The FIA can impose a fine or sporting penalties, such as reducing test bench times," he added.

Gruner predicts that only financial fines will be imposed on Honda and Renault for these violations.

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