The FIA is assessing if Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc must be investigated and presumably punished for swearing within the Mexico Grand Prix press convention, Motorsport understands.
The incident follows Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen receiving a group service punishment for swearing within the build-up to final month’s Singapore GP, which led to the Dutchman boycotting FIA press conferences.
The concentrate on driver swearing is a part of an FIA initiative throughout all its championships to try to keep away from its officers being on the receiving finish of abuse – typically from massive, partisan fanbases of well-known drivers – however has been interpreted as a clampdown on driver expression following feedback by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in an interview with Motorsport.
In Leclerc’s case, he was requested “what did you say to your self whenever you introduced the automobile again?” after ending third within the Mexico Metropolis race gained by his team-mate Carlos Sainz – referring to the second he almost crashed his Ferrari on the Peraltada nook in entrance of McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Leclerc’s reply included the road: “I had one oversteer after which once I recovered from that oversteer, I had an oversteer from the opposite facet after which I used to be like, ‘f**okay’.”
He then added: “Oh, sorry! Oh, no, oh no! I do not wish to be part of Max!”
After the press convention, Leclerc was spoken to at size by the FIA’s media delegate, the place it’s understood Leclerc was once more apologetic and understanding of why the dialogue was going down.
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, on the grid
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Pictures
As with Verstappen’s case, his feedback could possibly be constituted as a breach of Article 12.2.1k of the FIA’s Worldwide Sporting Code.
The rule states it’s an offence to challenge “any phrases, deeds or writings which have prompted ethical damage or loss to the FIA, its our bodies, its members or its government officers, and extra usually on the curiosity of motorsport and on the values defended by the FIA”.
After the press convention, Motorsport understands the FIA media delegate needed to report the incident to the governing physique’s sporting officers and the stewards of the assembly.
They’re now in discussions over whether or not to open a proper investigation into Leclerc’s feedback – akin to how racing incidents are first famous by race management officers earlier than being handed to the stewards.
It’s unclear at this stage when this will likely be determined, however on the 2023 Abu Dhabi GP, Mercedes and Ferrari workforce bosses Toto Wolff and Fred Vasseur have been investigated for swearing within the Las Vegas occasion’s workforce principals’ press convention the earlier week.
Due to this fact, the FIA might wait till subsequent weekend’s Brazilian GP earlier than saying an investigation.
That’s if it ever will get that far as a result of Motorsport understands Leclerc’s a number of apologies are already being considered within the matter.
