Ferrari and McLaren have been handed suspended fines by Formula 1’s governing body after Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris arrived late to an official FIA press conference ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.
The incident occurred on the Thursday before the race weekend, when both drivers failed to attend the scheduled media session on time, forcing the start of the press conference to be delayed. Although the breach had no impact on on-track activities, it fell foul of FIA regulations governing mandatory media commitments.
Under Formula 1’s sporting rules, drivers are required to attend official press conferences and other media activities throughout a Grand Prix weekend. Failure to do so, including late arrival, can result in disciplinary action.
Following a hearing with FIA stewards on Friday morning, representatives from Ferrari and McLaren explained that both drivers had been delayed by an earlier engagement, causing them to miss the scheduled start time.
The FIA subsequently issued each team with a €5,000 fine, suspended for a period of 12 months. The penalties will only be enforced if either team commits a similar offence within that timeframe.
Leclerc and Norris were among six drivers selected to participate in the Monaco media session, which forms part of Formula 1’s standard pre-race programme and is held every Thursday before a Grand Prix weekend.
The ruling means neither driver faces any sporting sanctions, allowing both to focus fully on their preparations for one of the most prestigious races on the Formula 1 calendar.
