Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris arrived a few minutes late to the official press conference for the Monaco Grand Prix
Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris were summoned to meet with the FIA stewards. The reason? Both were late to the official press conference.
According to the FIA, Leclerc and Norris explicitly violated Article B10.1.1a of the sporting regulations. This article stipulates that six drivers must attend the FIA’s official press conference.
Drivers not selected for this event must instead participate in press sessions organized by their teams.
The press conference with Leclerc, Norris, and Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Due to the two late drivers, the start was delayed by a few minutes. In the other group, Max Verstappen, Esteban Ocon, and Alexander Albon discussed the Monaco Grand Prix.
In fact, this is not the first investigation involving the official press conference. In 2024, Leclerc had to pay a fine of about 10,000 euros after a “fuck” slipped out. For a similar offense in Azerbaijan, Verstappen was sentenced to community service.
At the same time, Verstappen was not penalized for arriving late to a press conference in Austria. Ultimately, the team warned the FIA in advance, as the then-reigning world champion had been stuck in traffic.
Over the years, the official press conferences during Formula 1 weekends have changed significantly. In the past, a group of six people would be placed together on a stage, where they would then be confronted with questions from the international press.
This setting gave rise to numerous legendary moments, such as the verbal duel between Ross Brawn and Patrick Head ahead of the 2003 Italian Grand Prix. At the time, the Michelin tires and Bridgestone’s protest against them had caused quite a stir. Walter Koster’s famous line, “Gentlemen, a short view back to the past,” also originated in this context.
Nowadays, the sessions consist of two groups, with three drivers being interviewed in each. The hearing for the two “latecomers” is scheduled to take place on Friday morning before the first free practice session. However, fans of the two drivers need not expect a grid penalty or similarly harsh measures.