$45,370 fine flushed: FIA forgives Carlos Sainz for swearing while talking about toilet visit
Carlos Sainz isn’t having a great season, but he still got a major breather on Friday. The Williams driver has been forgiven a $45,370 fine for swearing at a press conference while giving an explanation about going to the toilet. The governing body has decided not to refer him to the stewards at the Bahrain Grand Prix, letting him escape the hefty fine.
Carlos Sainz was fined for going to the toilet
According to a Reuters report, an FIA spokesman has informed that Sainz has apologised for his conduct and would make up for it in a way which is yet to be determined by the body. Carlos Sainz used a cuss word at the FIA press conference on Thursday while giving an explanation about his other $22,200 fine, half of which has been thankfully suspended when a doctor confirmed that the driver was indeed dealing with a stomach issue and was also given medication. He reached late to the pre-race national anthem at the Japanese Grand Prix and was handed a fine of $22,200, now reduced to $11,000.
He had said that he was in the toilet to deal with a “stomach issue” and added, “I don’t know if I’m going to get another fine for saying this, but s— happens. It’s the way it is. It’s the way it goes sometimes.” Before the slip-up, he said at the press conference, “I’m the biggest supporter of punctuality and being, in a way, a gentleman, being punctual to things, and especially a national anthem, with all the authorities there. So I was the first one to put my hand up and say: ‘I’m late. I’m sorry for that.’ At the same time, I was five seconds late. And to be five seconds late and have to pay $11,000 or whatever the fine is, for me, it is out of the question that we are having to pay these fines.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has put strict sanctions against swearing in press conferences. As per the new rules, the first offence invites a $45,384 fine, $91,000 for the second, and the third offence carries a fine of $136,000 along with a one-month suspension and deduction of championship points.
Also Read: “Pretty expensive poo”: George Russell shares comical sympathy to Carlos Sainz’s bizarre €20,000 pre-race penalty in Japan
Carlos Sainz faced another issue in Japan when he was pushed back three positions from 12th to 15th ahead of the Sunday race after stewards found him impeding Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton during Qualifying 2 at the Japanese Grand Prix.
