Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is in a spot of bother with the FIA after swearing in the post-race press conference for the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
The governing body has sought to clamp down on driver swearing in recent weeks, according to Article 12.2.1k of the FIA’s International Sporting Code.
This reads; “any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motorsport and on the values defended by the FIA.”
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was punished after swearing in a press conference ahead of the Singapore GP and ordered to take a day of community service.
Speaking on the nervy moment in the final corner that cost him second place, Leclerc said “I had one oversteer and then when I recovered from that oversteer, I had an oversteer from the other side and then I was like, ‘f**k’. Oh, sorry! Oh, no, oh no! I don’t want to join Max!”
An embarrassed Leclerc was then interrupted by race winner and Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz who said: “do you have you wallet here.”
FIA considering investigation over Leclerc swearing incident
Once the press conference had concluded, Leclerc spoke with the FIA Media Delegate, with Autosport reporting the Ferrari driver was apologised and acknowledged his wrongdoing.
The situation then developed with the FIA Media Delegate having no choice but to report the incident to the stewards.
The FIA will have to decide whether the matter is worth pursuing further and if Leclerc is worthy of a punishment akin to Verstappen’s.
However, it’s not drivers who have been caught on the wrong end of Article 12.2.1k of the FIA’s International Sporting Code.
Ferrari and Mercedes bosses Fred Vasseur and Toto Wolff were summoned following their comments in Las Vegas last year.
Their remarks were triggered following Sainz’s Ferrari being written off by a loose drain cover in opening practice at Sin City.
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