Formula 1 Brazilian GP
FIA set for decision over Leclerc swearing investigation
A call on Leclerc's use of language in Mexico is expected on Friday amid bias comments from Max Verstappen
Filip Cleeren
Published: Nov 1, 2024, 1:15 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
The FIA is still considering whether or not it will investigate Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc for swearing in Mexico's press conference, with a call expected on Friday.
In Sunday's post-race press conference Leclerc used an expletive to describe his mindset as he went off the track at Mexico's final corner, which allowed McLaren driver Lando Norris through to claim second.
"I had one oversteer and then when I recovered from that oversteer, I had an oversteer from the other side and then I was like, 'fuck'," he said, before realising he might get in trouble over his language given the FIA's recent crackdown on swearing.
"Oh, sorry! Oh no, I don't want to join Max," Leclerc added, referring to Verstappen being handed a community service penalty for his own use of the word in Azerbaijan.
In Brazil, Verstappen suggested steward bias was behind the fact that he got penalised and Leclerc didn't.
"Apparently it only counts for me anyway, because after the race in Mexico someone was swearing. I didn't hear anything from it," he said.
"It's weird. Actually what he says is worse than what I said in the context, and it was a much more important press conference with more people watching."
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, in the Press Conference
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
But Motorsport.com has since learned the FIA is still set to make a call on Leclerc, having to wait until its stewards panel has travelled to Brazil so they can convene and look into the matter.
A decision on whether Leclerc will be investigated is expected on Friday.
After his swearing penalty Verstappen held a protest in the FIA's official press conferences in Singapore, and his case led to unease among other drivers over how severely FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem was clamping down on swearing.
Read Also:
"This goes down to people's personal opinions," Mercedes man and driver association director George Russell said in Mexico. "I think for people where English isn't their native language, they have different views on swearing. And even if you compare, the Brits to the Aussies, they say a specific C-word, which in some context is being polite to someone, whereas if you say that in the UK, that is massively frowned upon.
"So, it goes back to not having a set of regulations that are 100 pages long, saying 'you're allowed to say this, you can't say that'.
"I think common sense needs to be applied, and if somebody does swear inappropriately, then maybe there should be the appropriate fine or whatever against that. A community service tends to be too much for the crime that was committed."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Magnussen to miss Brazil sprint; Bearman steps in
Next article Haas: "Many ways" Magnussen can still fit into F1 team in 2025
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
8 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
More from
Charles Leclerc
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1 10 h
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
More from
Ferrari
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 d
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
F1 2026 calendar update: Imola GP off the table, no plan B if war escalates
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 d
F1 2026 calendar update: Imola GP off the table, no plan B if war escalates
Latest news
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 3 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 h
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
4 h
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe