McLaren Racing has found itself in the unusual position of being punished by a championship it no longer competes in.
The FIA has handed the Woking-based outfit a €400,000 fine after determining that it breached Formula E’s cost cap during its final campaign in the all-electric series.
McLaren exited Formula E at the end of the 2024/25 season to focus its resources on Formula 1, IndyCar and an ambitious Hypercar programme set to debut in the World Endurance Championship next year.
According to the FIA's review, McLaren exceeded Formula E's spending limit by 4.54%, equivalent to approximately £555,628.
The overspend was uncovered during an extensive audit of the team's financial submissions for its final Formula E season, a campaign in which rising star Taylor Barnard delivered five podium finishes.
Crucially, the FIA stressed that the breach was self-reported by McLaren before any formal investigation began. The governing body also accepted that the additional spending was not directed toward gaining a competitive advantage on track.
Instead, the excess expenditure stemmed largely from the practical realities of shutting down the programme after the decision was made to leave the championship.
Cooperation softens the blow
In its findings, the FIA noted that McLaren "voluntarily notified" the Cost Cap Administration of the overspend and cooperated fully throughout the review process.
The regulator further acknowledged that the team acted "cooperatively and in full transparency throughout the process" and that the overspend "primarily arises from costs associated with the orderly wind-down of the team following the decision to exit the Championship."
©McLaren
Importantly, the FIA added that there was "no accusation or evidence of aggravating factors" and no indication that McLaren had acted in bad faith.
Given those circumstances, the matter was resolved through an Accepted Breach Agreement, signed on June 1, 2026, with McLaren accepting a €400,000 fine.
The episode closes an unusual final chapter in McLaren's Formula E adventure. The team may have left the championship to focus on new horizons, but FIA’s accountants clearly wanted one last meeting before saying goodbye.
Read also: McLaren unveils special livery for landmark 1000th Grand Prix
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
