Williams driver Carlos Sainz risked attracting further penalties from Formula 1’s governing body

Williams driver Carlos Sainz risked attracting further penalties from Formula 1’s governing body after swearing during a press conference ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix—just days after being fined for a separate rules infraction.

Sainz was recently handed a €20,000 fine (£17,300), with €10,000 suspended, for arriving late to the national anthem ceremony at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Spaniard attributed the delay to a “stomach issue.” The fine sparked criticism among drivers, with Sainz—who also serves as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA)—openly questioning the severity of the punishment.

“To be five seconds late and have to pay €10,000? For me, it is out of the question,” Sainz said. “I don’t know if I’m going to get another fine for saying this, but s**t happens.”

His comments, including the expletive, could potentially land him in further trouble under newly tightened FIA conduct regulations. In a precedent set last season, reigning world champion Max Verstappen was ordered to carry out community service after using offensive language in public. Under updated rules, repeated offences could result in drivers being banned from races.

George Russell, Mercedes driver and Sainz’s fellow GPDA director, expressed concern over the state of relations between the drivers and the FIA. Referring to Sainz’s fine with humour, Russell called it an “expensive poo,” but went on to make a more serious point about what he sees as diminishing accountability and growing instability within the organization.

“Unfortunately, every time we hear news from that side of the sport, it’s not really a big surprise,” Russell said. “Things seem to be continuously going in an unstable direction.”

Russell’s comments came in the wake of Robert Reid’s resignation from his position as FIA Deputy President for Sport. Reid, a respected figure in motorsport, cited a “breakdown in governance standards” as his reason for stepping down.

His departure follows a series of internal conflicts involving FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and key figures like Reid and Motorsport UK Chair David Richards, both of whom have voiced concerns over a perceived erosion of transparency and accountability within the federation.

“Clearly, it’s a real shame to see someone so well respected leave,” Russell added. “We keep asking ourselves: what’s next?”

As discontent grows among drivers, questions continue to swirl about the direction and stability of the FIA, leaving the paddock watching closely to see whether further action—or reform—will follow.