Charles Leclerc has been fined €10,000 by the FIA for swearing in a press conference after the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
On the condition that there is no similar incident in the next 12 months, the fine will be just €5000.
After finishing in third place in Mexico, Leclerc was caught using an expletive in the post-race press conference that has now landed him in some trouble.
Already we have seen before that the FIA is trying to clamp down on drivers using such language, as Max Verstappen was given a day of community service for swearing in a press conference before the Singapore Grand Prix.
In a document released by the FIA, it read: “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 apologized. Such language is not considered suitable for broadcast. This is “Misconduct” as defined in Article 20 of the International Sporting Code, and is a breach of Article 12.2.1.k.”
Leclerc joins Verstappen as latest driver to be punished for swearing
The incident occurred when Leclerc was recalling when he lost second place to Lando Norris in the final corner as he nearly crashed the car going off the track.
He 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!”
The Ferrari driver immediately realised the implications of what he had just said and regretted his actions as he spoke with the FIA’s media delegate after the press conference.
However, Leclerc’s remorse didn’t seem to influence the stewards’ decision that what he said violated Article 12.2. 1k.
Verstappen protested heavily to his punishment, giving short answers in FIA drivers’ conferences after his punishment.
He even suggested at one point that he would give more detailed answers to the media outside of the FIA press conference room.
In the build-up to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the Dutchman was peeved off that at the time there seemed to be no action being taken towards Leclerc’s use of language yet he was punished for his use of an expletive.
With the verdict being made, it seems the FIA took a different approach with Leclerc by giving him a fine compared to Verstappen’s community service order.
READ MORE: Charles Leclerc expects tough F1 test for Ferrari in Brazil GP
