FIA declares reprimands for We Race As One T-shirts during national anthem

Race suit at the national anthem

After the race, the four drivers were called to the race director, where they received an official reprimand for not being in their official racing suits at the playing of the Hungarian national anthem. Although this has no immediate further consequences for the drivers in question, the decision generated a lot of criticism. Race director Michael Masi, however, fully supports the decision to reprimand Vettel, Bottas, Stroll and Sainz.

According to Masi, the rules were clarified at the start of the season following discussions between the FIA and Formula One. "We want to continue to give all drivers the opportunity to have the moment to effectively show their support for We Race As One, however they choose," Masi told Motorsport.com. "But then the anthem of a certain country has to be respected with drivers all wearing their racing suits."

Risking grid penalty

On their way to the moment for the national anthem, the drivers should therefore have taken off their We Race As One shirts. Being only a first offence, only a reprimand followed, but this could potentially have repercussions. If any of the drivers receive two more driving-related reprimands this season, they risk a grid penalty. "You have to have two driving-related reprimands and one without driving to end up with a grid penalty. But as an example, three non-driving reprimands doesn't have that impact."