Jaguar TCS Racing and Nissan Formula E teams have both been found guilty of breaching the sport’s financial regulations, resulting in fines and penalties. The FIA announced that Nissan has been fined €300,000 for exceeding the cost cap by 2% (€269,252), while Jaguar received a €100,000 fine for a 0.6% overspend (£73,849). Both teams will also face an additional penalty, which includes being suspended from running for half of the opening day of the pre-season test in Valencia on November 4th.
In a statement, the FIA emphasized that both teams cooperated fully during the review process and there was no evidence of bad faith, dishonesty, or fraudulent actions. The breaches were determined to be minor and the first of their kind since the full implementation of financial regulations.
Nissan acknowledged the breach, explaining that the overspend was related to the team’s adaptation to the new financial regulations, exacerbated by the team’s change of ownership, restructuring, and relocation. The team has since taken measures to avoid similar issues in the future.
“Nissan Formula E team recognises to have unwittingly and unintentionally incurred in a minor procedural and overspend breach… The team has put in place all the necessary precautions to avoid these kinds of miscalculations and oversights in the future,” Nissan’s statement said.
Jaguar, meanwhile, expressed that their overspend was the result of procedural errors that would have been rectified if refiling had been permitted by the regulations. The team made it clear that no competitive advantage was gained from the breach.
“Unfortunately, we understand a refiling is not allowable by the current regulations and therefore… we are in a very minor overspend position,” Jaguar stated. “At no time did we seek or gain a technical or sporting advantage.”
Despite these breaches, the teams remain focused on the upcoming season. Jaguar revealed a special one-off livery for the Valencia test, celebrating the 16 wins they’ve achieved across 11 circuits since their entry into Formula E, including a historic one-two finish at the Monaco E-Prix last season. While they missed out on the Drivers’ title, the team secured the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ championships with consistent performance throughout the season.
A Formula E spokesperson acknowledged the minor breaches, stating, “Although two teams were found to have been in minor breach, the championship accepts these were absolutely not intentional and appreciates the exceptional way that these teams have and continue to operate.”
Both teams are now looking ahead to the upcoming season, aiming to learn from these financial missteps while continuing to be major contenders in the Formula E Championship.
