High-intensity drama typically unfolds on track within Formula One, but Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur found themselves visiting the stewards after a showdown during the Las Vegas Grand Prix press conference.
The FIA summoned the duo to the stewards in Abu Dhabi on Thursday to address their use of “certain language” and potential breach of Article 12.2.1.f of the FIA’s International Sporting Code that may have caused offence during the press conference after FP1.
The article states that a breach has occurred if there have been “words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motorsport and on the values defended by the FIA.”
The practice session ended abruptly after Carlos Sainz’s SF-23 was damaged after he hit a loose manhole cover on the track. As a result, Sainz needed to take a new chassis and engine and was (controversially) handed a 10-place grid penalty.
Things took a sharp turn under the Vegas lights when Vasseur, understandably frustrated from the chaos caused by a loosened water valve cover, minced no words in expressing his frustration: “This [situation] will cost us a fortune – we f***ed up the session for Carlos.
“For sure I’m frustrated. I’m also scared because Carlos hit a metallic part at 320 kph and it could have been much worse.”
Meanwhile, Wolff, ready to defend the Vegas GP and event organisers, took aim at critics, and Vasseur: “You’re speaking about a f***ing drain cover that’s been undone, that has happened before – that’s nothing, it’s FP1!
“Give credit to the people that have set up this grand prix, that have made the sport much bigger than it ever was.”
A black and white flag has been waved at the pair so to speak, with the FIA reprimanding Wolff and Vasseur with formal warnings. The FIA emphasised that the language used was unacceptable, particularly considering the high-profile nature of those involved and their influence as role models for younger fans, highlighting that such language will not be tolerated moving forward:
“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.”
Wolff argued that his use of strong language was “unusual” and provoked by an “abrupt interjection” during the press conference. The FIA acknowledged the atypical nature of Wolff’s outburst but still deemed it necessary to send a warning.
The stewards letter to Wolff determined:
- “A breach of Article 12.2.1. 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.
- “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.
- “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.
- “Considering the mitigating circumstances in point 3 above, the Stewards in this case issue a formal Warning.”
On the other side of the pit lane, Vasseur’s frustration over the FP1 incident was both evident and understandable. The FIA recognised Vasseur’s language was also unusual and a reflection of the intensity of the race weekend.
The stewards letter to Vassuer determined:
- “A breach of Article 12.2.1. 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.
- “Based on the submission from the FlA, 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.
- “In this case, the Team Principal was extremely upset and frustrated by the incident that had occurred in FP1 and that language such as this, by him, was not usual.
- “Considering the mitigating circumstances in point 3 above, the Stewards in this case issue a formal Warning.”
The FIA also noted that Vasseur was:
“Extremely upset and frustrated by the incident that had occurred in FP1 and that language such as this, by him, was not usual.”
The warning handed down to Wolff and Vasseur is yet another stand from the FIA against colourful language being used within the sport following a similar problem in the 2023 Spanish GP with Haas team principal Guenther Steiner.
