Sainz risks more FIA wrath with ‘S*** happens’ defense of fine

Williams driver Carlos Sainz finds himself risking another fine from the FIA after using a frowned-upon expletive to defend his tardiness at the Japanese Grand Prix’s national anthem ceremony last weekend.

The Spaniard, already slapped with a €20,000 penalty – half suspended – for missing the 1:44pm grid call in Suzuka due to a stomach issue, doubled down on his stance during Thursday’s FIA press conference in Bahrain.

Unapologetic and frustrated, Sainz’s offered a blunt “s*** happens” remark that could draw further scrutiny from the governing body, though his choice of words may spare him the harsher punishments recently meted out to peers like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

The episode spotlights once again ongoing tensions between drivers and the FIA’s strict pre-race protocols.

Sainz Faces Fine Fallout

Sainz’s troubles began at Suzuka, where he arrived five seconds late for the national anthem, breaching FIA rules mandating drivers’ presence no later than the scheduled time.

Referred to the stewards, he cited “discomfort due to a stomach issue” as the cause, a factor they considered mitigating but not excusing.

The result: a €20,000 fine, with €10,000 suspended for 12 months provided he avoids further infractions. The full penalty could have reached €60,000 under Appendix B of the FIA International Sporting Code, but his explanation softened the blow.

Now, in Bahrain, Sainz’s candid reaction to the incident threatens to reignite the FIA’s ire.

Addressing the penalty in response to a question about his “expensive toilet break,” Sainz stands firm.

“I'm the biggest supporter of punctuality and being in a way, a gentleman, being punctual to things, especially a national anthem with all the authorities there,” he said.

“So I was the first one to put my hand up and say, 'I'm late, sorry for that'.”

Yet, he questions the proportionality of the punishment.

“At the same time, I was five seconds late and to be five seconds late, and have to pay €10,000 or whatever the fine is, is for me out of the question that we're having to pay these fines.”

S*** Happens!

It’s Sainz’s next remark that could land him in hot water again.

“I don't know if I'll get another fine for saying this…but s*** happens,” he quipped, leaning into his frustration. “It's the way it goes sometimes. €10,000 for [being] five seconds [late], is disappointing.”

The expletive, while milder than the F-word that saw Verstappen assigned community service in Rwanda and Leclerc fined last year, flirts with the FIA’s recent crackdown on driver language.

However, sources suggest Sainz, a newly appointed director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) director, may dodge formal discipline as his comment lacked the insulting edge of his predecessors’ outbursts, likely earning him a warning rather than a summons.

However, Sainz’s critique didn’t end with the fine’s cost. He calls for transparency on its destination.

“I hope, as I always say, that someone tells me where this €10,000 goes, and they say, 'OK at least it goes to a nice cause', and I'll be looking forward to see where [it goes].”

His plea reflects a broader driver sentiment about the FIA’s punitive measures, amplified by his new GPDA role advocating for the paddock’s interests.

Drivers Invoke Logistical Struggles

Sainz’s fellow GPDA director George Russell echoed the practical challenges drivers may face during pre-race periods, offering context to the Spaniard’s predicament.

“We have a duty to be there for the national anthem, but it’s not quite as straightforward as people might think,” Russell explained, quoted by The Race. 

“We're often running to the toilet and there are sometimes just not toilets available between the time you jump out of the car and going to the anthem.

“Then you get stopped by some people on the grid or people asking for a quick interview, for us to be there on time.”

For drivers, pre-race prep isn’t a single-task affair.

“It's not like we've got one sole job and that's only it,” Russell added. “We're trying to take our moment before the grand prix and being there on that minute is sometimes not straightforward.”

Russell balances this with the FIA’s perspective: “I appreciate it from F1's perspective because it's a very important moment of the race, but also from the driver's perspective, there are hard, genuine logistical issues that sometimes you're literally waiting to get into a bathroom cubicle.”

As the 2025 season progresses, Sainz’s outspokenness, backed by Russell’s logistical insights, could push the GPDA to challenge the FIA’s approach, all while the Spaniard races to keep his focus on the track rather than the stewards’ room.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook