Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have been ordered to appear before FIA stewards on Friday after both missed the start time of Monaco Grand Prix’s official Thursday press conference.
Regulation breach and procedural background
Article B10.1.1a of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations obliges all drivers selected for the daily media briefings to attend punctually, while those not chosen must join a separate, non‑conflicting session. The Monaco session splits six drivers into two groups of three, a format adopted to spread media focus more evenly after earlier formats concentrated on just a few competitors.
Stewards’ rationale and precedent
The stewards’ notice cites an “alleged breach of Article B10.1.1a – late attendance of the Thursday press conference.” Though rare, such summonses have occurred before; in 2024 FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem warned against profanity, fining Charles Leclerc €10,000 in Mexico and assigning Max Verstappen community service in Azerbaijan for coarse language. Those incidents carried heavier penalties than a simple tardiness, which the governing body still treats as a formal infraction because the conference is live‑broadcast.
Max Verstappen previously escaped sanction for a late arrival in Austria after his team documented traffic delays and demonstrated that “reasonable measures” had been taken, prompting the stewards to waive any penalty despite a technical breach.
Implications for the weekend
Both McLaren and Ferrari will need to brief their legal and media departments before the Friday hearing, while the race weekend proceeds under the watchful eye of broadcasters and sponsors who expect full compliance with the schedule. The outcome of the stewards’ deliberation could set a practical benchmark for how strictly the FIA enforces Article B10 timing clauses in future Grand Prix events.
With the Monaco circuit’s narrow streets already amplifying tension, the pending decision adds another layer of scrutiny for two of the sport’s brightest talents.
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