FIA Fines Ferrari €5,000 for Charles Leclerc's Late Press Conference Appearance at Monaco GP

Ferrari has been fined €5,000 by the FIA after Charles Leclerc arrived late to Thursday's official press conference ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. The penalty was issued after an investigation confirmed the breach, though the fine is suspended for 12 months pending no similar infraction.

Why it matters:

The incident underscores the FIA's strict enforcement of media obligations, even for a home hero like Leclerc. With the spotlight on Monaco, any distraction can ripple through a team's weekend—and the fine, while small, serves as a public reminder of the rules.

The details:

• Leclerc and Lando Norris were the two late arrivals to the 14:30 local time press conference, which started a couple of minutes late.
• Both drivers were summoned to the stewards on Friday morning. Leclerc's hearing came first.
• Ferrari explained that Leclerc was delayed by a previous commitment, but the stewards ruled the team is responsible for its driver's actions under Article 9.15.1 of the FIA International Sporting Code.
• The €5,000 fine is suspended for 12 months, provided there is no further breach of a similar nature.
• Norris's case is still pending at the time of the report.

What's next:

Leclerc now shifts focus to the track, where he is widely seen as a favorite for his home race after winning the 2024 edition from pole. However, he downplayed expectations:

• "I think we are in a better place… if there's one track I would bet on us, it's probably Monaco."
• He pointed to Mercedes as "the team to beat," with McLaren and Red Bull also strong.
• Leclerc acknowledged Ferrari's weakness on straights but believes Monaco's twisty layout plays to their chassis and aero strengths.

The Monaco Grand Prix weekend continues with FP1, and the Monegasque will aim to convert local hope into a second consecutive home victory.