Both Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have been summoned to appear before the FIA stewards at the Monaco Grand Prix before any track action begins.
The two drivers are required to report to the stewards on Friday following their late arrival at Thursday’s official FIA press conference.
While arriving late to a press conference may seem like a minor inconvenience, it still constitutes a formal breach of the sporting regulations.
The specific charge listed against both drivers reads: “Alleged breach of Article B10.1.1a of the FIA F1 regulations – late attendance of the Thursday press conference.”
Article B10 of the regulations sets out the obligations placed on competitors regarding media activities and official ceremonies throughout a grand prix weekend.
The Thursday press conference currently operates in a format where six selected drivers are divided into two groups of three, each appearing within a one-hour timeslot.
This format replaced an older, more crowded arrangement that was considered unsatisfactory due to questions gravitating toward one or two individuals, leaving others idle and disruptive.
Splitting into smaller groups was designed to distribute media attention more evenly and produce a more productive session for broadcasters and journalists alike.
The Thursday conference carries real significance because it is broadcast live, making punctuality an expectation from both the FIA and Formula 1’s commercial rights holder.
A precedent exists from the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen avoided punishment for late attendance after his team notified the FIA in advance that he had been held up in traffic.
The stewards concluded at that time: “The stewards conclude that the driver and the team took every reasonable measure given the circumstances and therefore impose no penalty despite technically the regulations have been breached.”
Press conference conduct has attracted steward attention before, most notably in 2024 when FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem launched a campaign against the use of expletives in official sessions.
Charles Leclerc was fined €10,000 for swearing during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend that same year, highlighting how seriously the FIA treats conduct in these official media environments.
Max Verstappen was separately required to perform community service for using language to describe his car in Azerbaijan that was deemed “coarse, rude” and unsuitable for broadcast.
Whether Norris and Leclerc face financial penalties or walk away with a warning will become clear once the stewards convene with both drivers ahead of Friday’s opening practice session on the streets of Monaco.