Leclerc Penalised for Language, €10K Fine Shows FIA Leniency

Leclerc’s expletive lands him a fine, but FIA shows leniency, contrasting his penalty with Verstappen’s harsher punishment.

For his expletive in the post-race press conference in Mexico, Charles Leclerc was summoned today in Brazil and ultimately penalised with a €10,000 fine, €5,000 of which is suspended, provided there are no further infractions of a similar nature within the next 12 months.

The FIA stewards received a report from the media delegate and subsequently heard from the driver of car 16 (Charles Leclerc), along with a representative from his team, and reviewed a written transcript.

“The FIA’s policy is to ensure that the language used in its public forums, such as press conferences, aligns with standards generally accepted for audiences and broadcasts of all ages. This is particularly important for statements made by participants in the World Championships, who serve as role models both within and beyond the sport.”

“This policy is clearly stipulated in the FIA regulations and has been reinforced through previous cases brought before the stewards in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.”

“The stewards reviewed the transcript of the post-race drivers’ press conference in Mexico and found that Charles Leclerc, driver of car 16, had used inappropriate language in response to a somewhat suggestive question asking ‘what went through your mind’ regarding the crucial moment towards the end of the race when Leclerc was struggling to keep control of the car coming out of the final corner. In his response, Leclerc used an expletive that accurately reflected his immediate thoughts at that point in time.”

“Leclerc immediately realised his mistake and apologised. Such language is deemed unsuitable for broadcast. This conduct falls under ‘misbehaviour’ as defined in Article 20 of the International Sporting Code, constituting a breach of Article 12.2.1.k.”

The stewards noted that the language was not directed at any individual or group and that Leclerc apologised immediately. During the hearing, Leclerc expressed regret for his momentary lapse in judgment.

The stewards accepted that he understood his responsibility as a role model within the sport. They took his immediate apology as a mitigating factor, and while noting the driver’s contrite behaviour, concluded that an infraction had occurred and that a penalty was warranted.

The stewards do not consider this infraction to reach the severity of the most recent case (Verstappen) and have therefore imposed a fine of €10,000, with €5,000 suspended should there be no recurrence within the next 12 months.