Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has been fined €10,000 (£7,700) for using profane language during a post-race press conference after the Mexico City Grand Prix. The 27-year-old was penalized after a tense exchange in which he vividly recounted nearly losing control of his car in the final corner while defending his position against McLaren’s Lando Norris. Half of the fine is suspended, contingent on Leclerc avoiding a repeat offense over the next 12 months.
Leclerc’s penalty is lighter than the punishment Red Bull’s Max Verstappen received for a similar incident at the Singapore Grand Prix in September. Verstappen was ordered to complete community service as part of his punishment, sparking discussions about consistency in enforcing FIA standards.
During the press conference, Leclerc swore while answering a question about his reaction to the high-stakes moment that led to him running off track, narrowly missing barriers, and ultimately ceding second place to Norris. The stewards overseeing the Sao Paulo Grand Prix cited Leclerc’s immediate apology as a mitigating factor in their judgment.
Verstappen himself highlighted the inconsistency, noting that Leclerc wasn’t initially sanctioned for the outburst. Verstappen, who responded to his own punishment with reserved answers in official press conferences and more candid remarks with journalists outside FIA-monitored sessions, pointed out the apparent double standard to race officials.
The controversy around driver language is part of an ongoing debate within F1. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s stance against broadcasting drivers’ swearing has drawn criticism from drivers, who argue that on-air reactions showcase their authenticity. While F1 broadcasts bleep out coarse language, the sport’s commercial rights holder has not made any changes to its TV policies.
Mercedes driver George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, announced that drivers plan to release an open letter to address the FIA’s handling of driver language, though the letter has yet to be published. Many drivers feel that stringent measures like fines undermine their freedom to express their emotions in the heat of competition.
