The FIA’s stewards have fined Charles Leclerc €10,000 (£8,420), half of which has been suspended, for swearing in last week’s press conference after the Mexican Grand Prix.
The decision comes five weeks after Max Verstappen was ordered to perform an act of “public work” for a similar infringement in the Singapore Grand Prix.The stewards stated they “do not consider that this breach reached the same level as the most recent case.”
Leclerc immediately apologised after swearing in the official FIA press conference on Sunday. Having been asked “what did you say to yourself” when he briefly lost control of his car, Leclerc answered: “I had an oversteer from the other side and then I was like, ‘f**k’.”
“Oh, sorry,” he added immediately. “Oh, no, I don’t want to join Max!”
The stewards explained their decision at length, stating: “It is the policy of the FIA to ensure that language used in its public forums, such as press conferences, meets generally accepted standards for all audiences and broadcasts.
“In particular this is true of statements made by participants in the world championships and thus being role models both inside and outside the sport. This is clear in the regulations of the FIA and has been reinforced through previous cases brought before the stewards in FIA Formula 1 world championship.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“The stewards reviewed the transcript of the post-race drivers’ press conference in Mexico and found that Charles Leclerc, the driver of car 16, used language in response to a somewhat leading question asking him ‘what did you say to yourself’ in relation to the significant moment towards the end of the race when Leclerc was fighting to control the car at the exit of the last corner. In response Leclerc used coarse language being the accurate recollection of what he thought to himself at the time. Leclerc immediately realized his error and apologised.
“The stewards considered the mitigation factor that Leclerc was immediately apologetic. The stewards while noting that the driver’s contrite behaviour conclude that a breach has occurred and a penalty is warranted. The stewards do not consider that this breach reached the same level as the most recent case and as such chose to levy a fine of €10,000 with €5,000 suspended pending no repeat within 12 months.”
Verstappen pointed out yesterday the FIA had not acted on the swearing in the previous press conference. “Apparently it only counts for me,” he said, “because after the race in Mexico, someone was swearing. I didn’t hear anything from it. So, it’s better I don’t swear again.”
In Singapore, Verstappen said “the car was fucked” in answer to a question about his performance in qualifying. The FIA press conference moderator then reminded him to watch his language
Asked later in the same session about FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s complaints about drivers’ swearing on their radios, Verstappen complained he “couldn’t even say the f-word,” in the session.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“I mean, it’s not even that bad right? I mean the car was not working, the car is ‘effed’, yeah. And then, excuse me for the language but come on, what are we? Five-year-olds, six-year-olds?
“Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching, I mean, they will eventually swear anyway even if their parents won’t or they will not allow it. When they grow up they will walk around with their friends and they will be swearing. So you know this is not changing anything.”
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a daily email with all our latest stories - and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:
2024 Mexican Grand Prix
- McLaren have no regrets over pitting Norris shortly before red flag came out
- Leclerc fined, avoids same penalty as Verstappen after apologising for swearing
- Leclerc not in the clear over swearing as Verstappen claims he went unpunished
- Majority of drivers wanted racing rules to change “straight away” – Russell
- Verstappen was “over the limit” with Norris but others would do same – Leclerc
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
1st November 2024, 23:09
Absolutely outrageous. 10 thousand euros for saying one word. Where does that money go anyway? charity?
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
2nd November 2024, 0:15
Exaggerated, it’s actually only 5k but only if it doesn’t get repeated in a full year, and that’s a lot for such a small slip, however he also got a smaller penalty than verstappen did cause he immediately apologised, so that way it makes sense.
Mayrton
2nd November 2024, 19:17
End of season gala. Or a contribution to RedBull heavy catering budget.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
3rd November 2024, 0:32
@fer-no65 The FIA considers itself to be a voluntary organisation that does some charitable work.
Jojo
2nd November 2024, 0:25
It’s a bit unfair for the stewards to treat the situations differently. Leclerc knew the punishment that Verstappen got, so unsurprisingly he was quick to apologise and even said “I don’t want to join Max”.
Also Max did apologise to the stewards afterwards and admitted that it was a slip of the tongue.
I don’t think drivers should be given community service for such thing, or even fined for that matter, especially for the first occurrence. If they swear all the time, or direct it at a person that would be different.
PB
2nd November 2024, 1:46
Don’t ask the question of what went through someone’s mind a near miss if you don’t want to hear the adjectival answer.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
3rd November 2024, 0:32
The journalist was OK with it, apparently the FIA was not.
M2X
2nd November 2024, 1:47
Ah look, exactly what the FIA is infamous arbitrary application of the rules, leading to inequality in punishment.
The FIA in the form of the stewards use an apologetic cop out as the basis for their discrimination.
By now even the appearance of impartiality of the FIA and the stewards has been fully compromised.
Mayrton
2nd November 2024, 19:24
Well, to be honest that has been the case for as long as I can remember. They should start with eliminating stewards that share nationality with one or more drivers. As in football. Seems something that is inexplicable at the moment. Then provide proper training and certification. Revise the rulebook with an attitude that less = more.
Gene
2nd November 2024, 2:08
If this doesn’t scream FIA bias against Max IDK what does…
w0o0dy (@w0o0dy)
2nd November 2024, 11:22
Exactly, but Herbert is part of the stewards again this weekend so what do you expect? Those people are the rot in the sport.
Mayrton
2nd November 2024, 19:25
inexcusable to have Herbert as a steward. Serious dent in credibility
SteveP
2nd November 2024, 20:16
Do note that, following a complaint from Max and Jos, the FIA swapped out three of four stewards on conflict of interest grounds and that JH was the only one that remained.
It looks as though your bias sights are aimed at the wrong guy, but I suppose anyone other than a Brit being even potentially at fault doesn’t fit your world view.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
3rd November 2024, 0:34
That sounds like they swapped out all the ones that *didn’t* have a conflict of interest and left the one who is publicly known to have such a conflict. This underlines an argument that the FIA is acting against Verstappen in a manner that contravenes its professional requirements.
Fishingelbow
2nd November 2024, 4:10
Meanwhile, the candidate favored by the polls for the Presidency of the United States swears like there was no tomorrow. Go figure.
tielemst
2nd November 2024, 9:09
He’s not a rapper is hè?
MichaelN
2nd November 2024, 9:16
That’s their problem. I doubt anyone is looking at them for an example.
But either way, this business is silly.
Let select reporters censor things for their audience if they are so precious about words, but don’t impose this stuff on the drivers.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
2nd November 2024, 4:10
It has of course been said before, but the FIA brings itself into greater disripute by allowing events in countries with known human rights issues.
I think it is correct for swearing to be punished at some level otherwise were does it end? Do you start giving ‘Effing Points’ to give them some leeway? But it is still clearly less of an issue than the above.
Kevin Drijver
2nd November 2024, 6:17
I think we can all agree that giving a penalty for this is ridiculous.
But, if you do, we must be consistent with the penalties. This for me showcases perfectly how ridiculously inconsistent the stewards are, which is such a shame.
Jere (@jerejj)
2nd November 2024, 6:30
So Max should’ve also immediately apologized to avoid community service.
If only he’d known beforehand that merely apologizing is a mitigating factor.
SteveP
2nd November 2024, 9:15
Most nations teach children how they should behave in society, it doesn’t register in some minds.
Yes, apologising for your misdeeds is a mitigating factor.
Some nations/groups value a public apology higher than any amount of cash.
tielemst
2nd November 2024, 10:39
It would be if Charles had apologized because he genuinely thought he did something wrong. In this case it was clear he only apologized because he knew there would be a silly penalty. Max did not know, if he did he would have done the same.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
3rd November 2024, 0:37
tielemst, the regulations also require answering journalists’ questions. Strictly speaking, not swearing would also have required Leclerc to do something that was wrong in the eyes of the regulations, and arguably a more serious one at that.
However, the behaviours are penalised in the opposite direction to their actual severity (if precedent is anything to go by, the penalty for skipping a press conference without cause ends where the penalty for honestly answering a question with a response the FIA doesn’t like begins).
Ray West (@raynaud2211)
2nd November 2024, 8:08
Wow, a lot of money for just a word that didn’t offend anyone. To put it in perspective, Mercedes is fined €5000 for George Russell’s unsafe release in Q1 Japan 2024. I guess swearing is so much more worse.
Shame he didn’t get community service just like Max. Cause I know a great opportunity: driving the safety car with Max in the lower classes. And who is driving needs to answer questions why swearing is so tremendous bad.
SteveP
2nd November 2024, 9:07
5k, 10k a lot for average Joe on the street.
For the drivers on their rate of pay, it’s the equivalent of 10 pence / 10 cents in the office swear-box.
The publicity of the fine is more of an effect as it affects the attitudes of their sponsors who might not extend the sponsorship.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
3rd November 2024, 0:40
@raynaud2211 Ben Sulayem and Johnny Herbert were offended by it, possibly other people. Safety is more serious but the FIA cares less about that at this time, which is less than professional of it.
Patrick (@anunaki)
2nd November 2024, 8:27
Did he have to stand in the corner for a time-out?
Imre (@f1mre)
2nd November 2024, 8:57
He had to kneel on corn in the corner.
Imre (@f1mre)
2nd November 2024, 8:56
So if you break the law (cheat, steal, kill) but say “sorry” quickly then you get significantly less punishment?
Is this the moral of this story?
Davethechicken
2nd November 2024, 9:02
Kind of how most western judicial systems work
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
3rd November 2024, 0:41
@f1mre It’s fairly common, especially with first-time offenders. The FIA extends that principle inconsistently, which is unlikely to surprise anyone who’s been following F1 a while.
Ideals (@ideals)
2nd November 2024, 8:59
Most of the F1 audience is significantly older than these drivers, if not the same age. Who exactly is looking to Leclerc as a role model? A ten year old isn’t watching the FIA press conference on Thursday, I can confidently state.
This speech policing is such a slippery slope when it starts policing common vocabulary in a familiar setting. The FIA should go back to regulating the sport, which is the act of controlling cars running a track, not the act of controlling an individuals expression through speech.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
2nd November 2024, 10:56
I don’t see why not: Holidays, half-terms, time zone differences, there’s all manner of reasons why they might not be in school at that time on a grand prix weekend. Whether press conferences should be broadcast live is another matter.
I do think they’re wrong to go dipping in his pocket given he realised he did something wrong and apologised immediately. He should have had a reprimand.
M2X
2nd November 2024, 11:47
@keithcollantine
It was an empty apology.
Equal infringement requires equal punishment.
At this point there are 3 drivers in 2 different racing classes that said the same word and 3 different punishments.
It’s the epitome of arbitrary ruling.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
3rd November 2024, 0:43
@ideals They are, however, likely to hear the post-race press conference on Sunday live – not to mention the probability of channels broadcasting snippets of broadcasting sessions whenever in their programs they like (subject to contractual obligations with Liberty and their ad providers).
AlexS
2nd November 2024, 9:53
F1 getting worse every year.
Mayrton
2nd November 2024, 19:40
I unfortunately have to agree. I wonder how many season left before I tune out.. let’s see, I -at this moment- still have hope.
ryanoceros (@ryanoceros)
2nd November 2024, 10:04
This website won’t allow me to express my feelings on this topic with my preferred words.
SteveP
2nd November 2024, 11:57
The festive gifting season is approaching, I recommend someone gifting you a dictionary and thesaurus to expand your vocabulary of words used in polite society :)
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
3rd November 2024, 0:44
The availability of a broad vocabularly merely leads to a larger number of non-preferred words. ryanocerous did not at any point suggest there were no non-preferred words to express the opinion ;_
floodo1 (@floodo1)
2nd November 2024, 13:16
just bleep it
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
3rd November 2024, 0:44
@floodo1 That would require the motive to be something other than power and money :(