Vasseur and Wolff warned over language in Vegas press conference

Vasseur and Wolff each launched passionate rants about the farcical start to the Vegas weekend that saw a loose drain cover cause serious damage to Carlos Sainz’s car and heavily disrupt Thursday’s practice schedule. 

They were both summoned to attend a hearing with the FIA stewards at 1pm UK time on Thursday in the Yas Marina paddock ahead of this weekend’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

The stewards determined that: 

"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; 

"4. Considering the mitigating circumstances in point 3 above, the Stewards in this case issue a formal Warning."

What was said?

Wolff: “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 fuc**** 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!”

Vasseur: "We damaged completely the monocoque, the engine, the battery. I think it’s just unacceptable. 

"It cost us a fortune. We fucked up the session for Carlos. We won’t be part of FP2 for sure…. I think it’s just unacceptable for F1 today."