Both Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have been fined for arriving late to the FIA’s Thursday press conference in Monaco.
As a result, McLaren and Ferrari have picked up fines of €5000 each, suspended for 12 months pending no further offences of this nature.
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Norris and Leclerc had to face the stewards on Friday morning to explain themselves. Arriving late to a press conference is a relatively low-tariff offence but it is a breach of Article B10 of the FIA F1 regulations, which sets the requirements around media activities and official ceremonies for all competitors.
In their finding, the stewards defined the infringement thus: “Breach of Article B10.1.1a of the FIA F1 regulations and Articles 12.2.1.i and 12.2.1.p of the FIA International Sporting Code.”
For its Thursday press conference the FIA selects six drivers who must then appear – on time – for the session, which generally takes place after lunch. In recent years the format has been for the drivers to appear three at a time, with the session divided into two half-hour sections.
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The session is televised live, hence the requirement for punctuality. Article B10 of the F1 regulations specifically defines what is required of all competitors on a day-by-day basis, including attendance on the grid for the national anthem.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
All drivers not selected to appear in the Thursday press conference are required to be present at separate sessions throughout the day, which must not be scheduled in conflict with each other or the FIA conference.
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Both Norris and Leclerc explained that they were “delayed at a previous commitment” but this is not enough to warrant mitigation in such a breach. The Monaco Grand Prix has been in existence for nearly 100 years and the building in which the press conferences are held was not erected recently, so there are few excuses for being late.
In 2024 Max Verstappen was to the Thursday conference in Austria because of heavy traffic on the way to the track, but he went unpunished because the team notified the FIA in advance.
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Still, this is considered a lesser offence than being late to the national anthem, for instance. In Japan last season Carlos Sainz was five seconds late for the national anthem on the pre-grid, having been forced to attend to an emergency call of nature, resulting in a fine of €20,000 – mitigated down from the standard tariff of €60,000.
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Under the Article 9.15.1 of the FIA’s International Sporting Code, the competitor is considered responsible for its drivers, hence the teams are expected to pay the fines.
Photos from Monaco GP – Friday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
A general view of the harbour with the Paddock Club.
A general view of the harbour with the Paddock Club.
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Fan
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Fan
Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Alexandra Leclerc arrives in the paddock.
Alexandra Leclerc arrives in the paddock.
Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing
Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Flavio Briatore, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Flavio Briatore, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
A general view of the city from the harbour.
A general view of the city from the harbour.
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Tamara Kalinic and Xenia Adonts
Tamara Kalinic and Xenia Adonts
Pascal Le Segretain / Sygma via Getty Images
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Morgan Gibbs-White
Morgan Gibbs-White
Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Flavio Briatore, Alpine
Flavio Briatore, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Joe Portlock / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash
Gabriel Bouys / AFP / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash
Gabriel Bouys / AFP / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Alexander Albon, Williams, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Alexander Albon, Williams, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Joe Portlock / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash
Gabriel Bouys / AFP / Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
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