Carlos Sainz risks further FIA punishment with coarse reaction to Japan fine

Williams driver Carlos Sainz risked falling further foul of FIA rules by swearing in the press conference ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Sainz was fined 20,000 euros (£17,300), with 10,000 suspended, for being late to the national anthem in Japan last week – the Spaniard saying he had a “stomach issue”.

He is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, alongside George Russell, who labelled the indiscretion an “expensive poo”.

“To be five seconds late and have to pay 10,000 euros for me, it is out of the question that we are having to pay these fines,” Sainz said.