Williams driver Carlos Sainz has found himself under scrutiny again after swearing in an official news conference, potentially inviting another fine from governing body the FIA.
The controversy arises from Sainz’s criticism of a €10,000 (£8,648) penalty he received at the Japanese Grand Prix for arriving five seconds late to the national anthem ceremony due to stomach issues.
During media day at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Sainz expressed frustration over the fine: “I’m the biggest supporter of punctuality… But to be five seconds late and have to pay €10,000 or whatever the fine is, for me, it is out of the question.” He added, “I don’t know if I’m going to get another fine for saying this, but s*** happens.”
The FIA recently introduced penalties for swearing in official settings, following an incident last September when Max Verstappen received community service for similar behavior at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Sainz, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), had previously criticized the policy, stating he believed fining drivers for swearing was excessive.
His GPDA colleague George Russell weighed in on the situation, jokingly calling the fine “a pretty expensive poo” while expressing broader frustrations with FIA governance.
Russell’s comments came amid the resignation of FIA deputy president of sport Robert Reid, who cited “a fundamental breakdown in governance standards.”
Sainz also voiced disappointment with the lack of transparency surrounding his fine, stating, “I hope someone tells me where this €10K goes. At least [it should] go to a nice cause.”
