FIA President Jokingly 'Fines' Lando Norris for F-Bomb at Trophy Ceremony

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem humorously levied a €5,000 fine on newly crowned Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris after the McLaren driver dropped an f-bomb during his acceptance speech at the FIA Prize Giving ceremony in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The lighthearted moment highlighted the ongoing tension between drivers' candid personalities and the FIA's public decorum expectations.

Why it matters:

The incident underscores the balancing act in modern F1 between authentic driver expression and the sport's formal, global image. While the fine was a joke, it references a real push from the FIA to curb public swearing, a stance that has previously led to genuine penalties for drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. It also reflects the more personable and relaxed champion that Norris has become.

The details:

• The exchange occurred as Norris received his trophy for winning the 2025 Drivers' Championship, following presentations to McLaren for the Constructors' title and to his teammate Oscar Piastri for finishing third.
• Ben Sulayem, freshly re-elected as FIA President, playfully ruffled Norris's hair as he took the stage before the driver began his speech.
• Reflecting on the season's challenges with Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, Norris said, "we had our share of mistakes and fuck ups, can I say that here?" before immediately joking about a potential fine.
• In response, Ben Sulayem quipped, "I was going to give you a €5,000 fine, but now I think you need it for your hair after I messed it up."

Between the lines:

The playful nature of this specific interaction doesn't erase the underlying seriousness of the FIA's position on language. President Ben Sulayem has been vocal about wanting drivers to act as role models, and the governing body has the authority to issue real fines for "offensive language" during official proceedings. Norris's immediate acknowledgment—"I'll get fined"—shows drivers are acutely aware of this line, even as they occasionally test its boundaries in unscripted moments.

What's next:

Norris's championship-winning season and his charismatic, occasionally unfiltered persona represent a new era for F1's leading figures. While the FIA is likely to maintain its standards for official events, the public and commercial appeal of genuine driver personalities creates a natural push-and-pull. Expect this dynamic to continue as the sport navigates its formal traditions alongside the demand for relatable stars.