Honda, Alpine hit with six-figure fines over PU cost cap breaches

Honda and Alpine have both accepted agreements offered by the FIA for procedural breaches of the first power unit manufacturers’ cost cap.

The two manufacturers were found to be in procedural breach early last month, with the FIA’s Cost Cap Administration stating both were below the cost cap level when it came to relevant costs. The breaches have now been published, revealing that Honda made errors in its reporting of dyno maintenance and inventories.

Honda’s accepted breach agreement (ABA) results in it being fined $600,000, as well as bearing the costs of the Cost Cap Administration in regards to its preparation of the ABA.

For Alpine, it was a case of its assessment report not being complete, as it “contained significant deficiencies. Several required procedures had not been performed at all, and several other procedures had only been partially completed.” Alpine addressed those deficiencies with an updated assessment report in May.

Alpine’s fine is lower than Honda’s at $400,000, and it also takes on the costs for the ABA preparation.

“The Cost Cap Administration recognized that both power unit manufacturers have acted cooperatively and in good faith throughout the review process and have sought to provide additional information and evidence when requested in a timely manner, that this is the first year of the full application of the Power Unit Financial Regulations and that there is no accusation or evidence that either Alpine or HRC has sought or obtained any undue advantage as a result of the breach,” the FIA stated.