23 November 2023 , 18:19
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Formula One stewards have issued a formal warning to Mercedes' Toto Wolff and Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur after they used inappropriate language during a press conference at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Wolff and Vasseur furiously ranted about the embarrassing start to the GP in Las Vegas last week. Carlos Sainz's car was seriously damaged after colliding with a loose drain cover, which delayed second practice.
They both attended a hearing with FIA stewards on Thursday in the Yas Marina paddock ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where their fates were decided. A decision document read: "1. A breach of Article 12.2.1.f of the FIA International Sporting Code has been committed by the Team Principal in that the language used is not consistent with the values defended by the FIA;
"2. Based on the submission from the FIA, the FIA regards language of this type to be unacceptable, moving forward, particularly when used by participants in the sport who have a high public profile and who are seen by many, especially younger, followers of the sport, as role models, and that in future the FIA will not tolerate the use of such language in FIA forums by any stakeholder;
"3. Based on the submission from the Team Principal, the use of the language concerned was in this case unusual and was provoked by an abrupt interjection during the Press Conference and therefore cannot be regarded as typical from this Team Principal;
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"4. Considering the mitigating circumstances in point 3 above, the Stewards in this case issue a formal Warning."
Mercedes Executive Director Toto Wolff slammed the Las Vegas Grand Prix (Getty Images)Wolff was far from happy about events in Las Vegas. He said last week: "It’s completely ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. How can you even dare to talk bad about an event that sets the new standards, new standards to everything. And then you’re speaking about a f****** drain cover that came undone that has happened before - it’s nothing, it’s FP1.
"Give credit to the people that have set up this grand prix, that have made this sport much bigger than it ever was. Have you ever spoken good about someone? And written a good word? You should talk about all these people that have been out there. Liberty has done an awesome job and just because in FP1 and a drain cover has become undone we shouldn’t be moaning. The car is broken, that’s really a shame.
"For Carlos it could have been dangerous so between the FIA, the track and everybody needs to analyse how we can make sure this is not happening again but to talk about a black eye for the sport on Thursday evening… no one watches it on European time anyway. Come on!"
Meanwhile, Ferrari chief Vasseur, who was directly effected by Sainz's drain incident, blasted the organisers of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He said: "We damaged completely the monocoque, the engine, the battery. I think it’s just unacceptable. It cost us a fortune. We f***** up the session for Carlos. We won’t be part of FP2 for sure…. I think it’s just unacceptable for F1 today."