Charles Leclerc fined by FIA after using inappropriate language at Mexico City Grand Prix

Stewards for Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, have fined Charles Leclerc for swearing during a recent post-race news conference. I don’t want to join Max!” Carlos Sainz responded, “You have your wallet here?” Leclerc being spoken to by an FIA official after dropping an F-bomb in the post-race presser. After doing it Leclerc immediately laughed and said: “Oh no, I don’t want to join Max!” Max got community service for swearing during an FIA presser in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/r9i84VEq4F — Nate Saunders October 27, 2024 Max Verstappen received a different punishment from the FIA earlier this season when he described his car’s setup in Azerbaijan as “f—–” during a Singapore Grand Prix news conference. The FIA’s decision document for Leclerc’s fine stated that the FIA’s policy is to “ensure that language used in its public forums, such as press conferences, meets generally accepted standards for all audiences and broadcasts,” especially comments made by F1 drivers, whom the FIA calls “role models both inside and outside the sport.” The stewards noted that Leclerc’s “language was not directed at anyone or any group and that Leclerc immediately apologised.” Referring to Verstappen’s recent punishment for news conference language, the stewards wrote in the Leclerc decision that they “do not consider that this breach reached the same level as the most recent case” and that they considered “the mitigation factor that Leclerc was immediately apologetic.” Leclerc’s summons came a day after Verstappen made a remark about the matter during Thursday’s FIA news conference ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix.