Williams driver Sainz swears in Bahrain presser, criticising €10k fine for being five seconds late.
Carlos Sainz may be facing another fine from Formula 1’s governing body after swearing during a Bahrain Grand Prix press conference while venting frustration over a €10,000 punishment handed to him at Suzuka.
The Williams driver was fined last weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix for arriving late to the pre-race national anthem ceremony. Sainz, who finished 14th in that race, said his brief delay was due to stomach trouble that required an emergency toilet visit.
Despite issuing an immediate apology, Sainz was fined €10,000 (£8,648), half of which was suspended. But during media day at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Spaniard’s attempt to explain himself took another controversial turn.
“I’m the biggest supporter of punctuality,” Sainz began. “Especially when it comes to something as important as a national anthem, in front of all the authorities. I was the first to put my hand up and say, ‘I’m late, I’m sorry for that.’”
He continued: “At the same time, I was five seconds late. And to be five seconds late and have to pay €10,000 or whatever the fine is… for me, it is out of the question.”
Then came the moment that could land him in more trouble: “But yeah, I don’t know if I’m going to get another fine for saying this, but s*** happens.”
That final remark could breach the FIA’s updated rules introduced over the winter, which now explicitly prohibit swearing during official F1 events. The crackdown followed Max Verstappen’s outburst in Singapore last year, which led to a penalty in the form of community service.
Sainz, who also serves as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), has previously criticised the policy of fining drivers for language. Thursday’s outburst suggests he has little intention of backing down.
Mercedes driver and fellow GPDA director George Russell also weighed in, mocking the fine by saying, “It’s a pretty expensive poo.” Russell’s comments underlined growing frustration among drivers with the FIA’s perceived heavy-handedness.
Tensions between drivers and the FIA have been simmering for months, exacerbated further by the resignation of the organisation’s deputy president of sport, Robert Reid, just hours earlier. Reid reportedly stepped down over “serious concerns” about the FIA’s direction and internal standards.
“We’ve been talking about this on and off for six months now,” said Russell. “We just want collaboration. It doesn’t make any sense to be fighting on these topics.”
Sainz echoed the sentiment and said the most frustrating part of the original fine was the lack of transparency. “It’s disappointing,” he said. “I hope someone tells me where this €10K goes. If it goes to a nice cause, I’ll be happy to know. But no one’s said anything.”
The FIA has yet to comment on Sainz’s latest remarks or whether he will face additional penalties. However, under the current regulations, drivers can be fined or issued alternative sanctions for unsporting conduct during media sessions.
The controversy adds to a turbulent week in F1, where tensions between teams, drivers, and the FIA appear to be reaching a boiling point. With Sainz unapologetic and the GPDA backing stronger dialogue, the rift over fines and driver treatment is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
