Williams' Carlos Sainz has been fined DKK 75,000 for being five seconds late. The Spaniard is furious about the penalty and wants to know where the money is going.
Formula One driver Carlos Sainz Jr. has expressed his displeasure after being fined 10,000 euros (£7,000) for arriving five seconds late.
It is not specified exactly what Sainz was late for. But in the Formula 1 world there are tight schedules that must be adhered to. This applies to both the mother, the press mother and technical procedures.
The Spaniard does not hide his frustration with the situation. He believes that the size of the fine is out of proportion to the offense. Five seconds of delay resulted in a considerable financial penalty.
Sainz also questions what the collected fines are used for. He wants transparency about the use of the funds. This is a central point of his criticism.
He hopes that the money at least goes to a good cause. That would make the fine easier to accept, even if he finds it unreasonable.
Criticism of the penalty system in Formula 1
Carlos Sainz Jr. spoke directly about his experience with the stall.
– I was five seconds late, and being five seconds late and having to pay 10,000 euros, or whatever the fine is, is incomprehensible to me that we have to pay these fines.
The comment clearly shows his point of view. He finds it difficult to understand the logic behind such large fines for minor time violations.
He added with some irony and frustration:
– I don't know if I'll get another ticket for saying this… but s*** happens.
Saniz now hopes that more light can be shed on the rules.
– I hope, as I always say, that someone will tell me where these 10,000 euros disappear to.
The quick Spaniard hurried to elaborate:
"They say, 'OK, at least it's going to a good cause,' and I'll look forward to seeing where [it goes]." It's important to him to know that the money is being used wisely.
Don't know what the stall is for
Penalties in Formula 1 are not an unknown phenomenon. They can be given for a variety of offenses. It can be anything from speeding in the pit lane to technical irregularities or breaches of sporting regulations.
The handling of the fines is administered by the FIA, the international motor sport federation, but detailed information on the specific use of the money is rarely provided.
The FIA generally uses funds from stalls to fund safety initiatives, training programs for officials or other projects related to motorsport. However, the direct path from a specific stall to a specific project is often unclear.
Sainz's comments highlight an issue that perhaps deserves more attention, and many fans and those within the sport would also like more transparency.
His statements could potentially spark debate about fines practices in Formula 1. This is not the first time a driver has expressed frustration over fines or penalties.
Formula 1 continues to be a sport with large financial interests and strict regulations. Discussions like this are a natural part of the sport's development.
At Boosted.dk you can read a lot more about Formula 1. We cover ongoing news about the choirs, the teams and the technical aspects of the sport. Among other things, there is news about another ban, which has also affected the world of rallying. Read more about it here .
