P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Carlos Sainz could face further punishment from the FIA stewards at Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix because of his reaction to his fine for a pre-race incident at Suzuka
Carlos Sainz shrugged off potential further FIA sanctions at the Bahrain Grand Prix, candidly commenting “s*** happens” regarding his fine for a pre-race incident at Suzuka. Despite explaining his delay was due to a stomach issue, Sainz was fined €20,000 for missing the national anthem at the Japanese GP. The fine could have been much higher, but was mitigated by his explanation. While expressing support for punctuality, Sainz found the hefty fine disproportionate and hoped for transparency on where the money goes. It is likely Sainz will not face further punishment for his language, unlike previous cases involving Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Fellow GPDA director George Russell emphasized the challenges drivers face in meeting strict timing due to various factors beyond their control, such as toilet breaks and media commitments before races.