LECLERC FINED FOR SWEARING DURING PRESS CONFERENCE

Charles Leclerc avoided a public service penalty and instead received a fine from the FIA for swearing during a press conference. After the Mexico Grand Prix, Leclerc was fined €10,000, with half of it suspended, for using profanity during the FIA press conference. Finishing third in the race, Leclerc made a remark while describing the moment in the final corner when he went off the track, which allowed Lando Norris to secure second place.

In the press conference, Leclerc had said, “I understeered once, then I got rid of it and had another understeer from the other side, and at that moment I said, ‘s**t.’” Recalling FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s strict stance on profanity, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen had previously received a public service penalty for a similar remark in Singapore. Leclerc, remembering this, joked, “Oh, sorry, no! I don’t want to join Max in getting a penalty.”

However, on Friday evening in Brazil, FIA officials reviewing the matter decided to fine the Ferrari driver €10,000, suspending €5,000 of it on the condition that he does not repeat this violation within the next 12 months. The stewards explained that Leclerc’s immediate apology was a mitigating factor and that his infraction was not on the same level as Verstappen’s profanity incident in Singapore.

After examining the transcript of the post-race press conference, the stewards noted that Leclerc’s response to the question, “What did you say to yourself at that moment?” regarding the critical last corner, included inappropriate language. They emphasized that his language was not directed at any individual or group, and that Leclerc immediately recognized his mistake and apologized.

During the hearing he was summoned to for this incident, Leclerc expressed regret for his momentary lapse and acknowledged his responsibility as a role model in the sport. Taking Leclerc’s remorse into account, the stewards decided on a financial penalty, concluding that this incident was not at the same level as Verstappen’s case.

Thus, Verstappen remains the only driver to have received a public service penalty.