Mercedes chief Toto Wolff and Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur given formal warnings in Abu Dhabi GP investigation

Toto Wolff and Fred Vasseur used inappropriate language in a press conference at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last week – and both have now been handed formal warnings

Formula One stewards have issued a formal warning to Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur after they used inappropriate language during a press conference at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Wolff and Vasseur furiously ranted about the embarrassing start to the GP in Las Vegas last week. Carlos Sainz’s car was seriously damaged after colliding with a loose drain cover, which delayed second practice.

The two of them went to a consultation with FIA stewards on Thursday in the Yas Marina enclosure in front of the Abu Dhabi Excellent Prix, where their destinies were chosen. A choice record read: “1. A break of Article 12.2.1.f of the FIA Global Wearing Code has been committed by the Group Head in that the language utilized isn’t predictable with the qualities shielded by the FIA;

“2. In view of the accommodation from the FIA, the FIA respects language of this kind to be unsuitable, pushing ahead, especially when utilized by members in the game who have a high open profile and who are seen by a lot of people, particularly more youthful, supporters of the game, as good examples, and that in future the FIA won’t endure the utilization of such language in FIA gatherings by any partner;

“3. Based on the submission from the Team Principal, the use of the language concerned was in this case unusual and was provoked by an abrupt interjection during the Press Conference and therefore cannot be regarded as typical from this Team Principal;

“4. Considering the mitigating circumstances in point 3 above, the Stewards in this case issue a formal Warning.”

Wolff was far from happy about events in Las Vegas. He said last week: “It’s completely ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. How can you even dare to talk bad about an event that sets the new standards, new standards to everything. And then you’re speaking about a f drain cover that came undone that has happened before – it’s nothing, it’s FP1.

Give credit to the people that have set up this grand prix, that have made this sport much bigger than it ever was. Have you ever spoken good about someone? And written a good word? You should talk about all these people that have been out there. Liberty has done an awesome job and just because in FP1 and a drain cover has become undone we shouldn’t be moaning. The car is broken, that’s really a shame.

“For Carlos it could have been dangerous so between the FIA, the track and everybody needs to analyse how we can make sure this is not happening again but to talk about a black eye for the sport on Thursday evening… no one watches it on European time anyway. Come on!”

In the meantime, Sainz’s drain incident immediately affected Ferrari CEO Vasseur, who chastised the Las Vegas Grand Prix organisers. “We completely damaged the battery, the engine, and the monocoque,” he declared. It just seems wrong to me. We spent a fortune on it. For Carlos, we f* botched the session. FP2 won’t include us, for sure. It just seems wrong to me for F1 in the modern era.”