'S*** happens' - Sainz's response to F1 toilet break fine

Carlos Sainz wasn't deterred by the threat of further punishment from the FIA stewards at Formula 1's Bahrain Grand Prix, saying "s*** happens" in response to his fine for a pre-race incident at Suzuka.

Sainz wasn't in place for the national anthem at the Japanese GP at the specified time of 1.44pm (16 minutes prior to the formation lap) and so was referred to the stewards, who handed him a €20,000 fine, half of which is suspended for 12 months subject to there being no further breaches of the rule.

That was despite Sainz detailing that he'd "experienced discomfort due to a stomach issue, which delayed his appearance on the grid".

Instead that was used as a mitigating circumstance against the stewards issuing the full €60,000 fine listed in Appendix B of the FIA International Sporting Code.

In Thursday's pre-event FIA press conference in Bahrain, The Race asked Sainz what he made of his expensive toilet break and whether he was surprised he was fined considering the reason he had for being late.

"I'm the biggest supporter of punctuality and being in a way, a gentleman, being punctual to things, especially a national anthem with all the authorities there," Sainz replied.

"So I was the first one to put my hand up and say, 'I'm late, sorry for that'.

"At the same time, I was five seconds late and to be five seconds late, and have to pay €10,000 or whatever the fine is, is for me out of the question that we're having to pay these fines.

"I don't know if I'll get another fine for saying this…but s*** happens.

"It's the way it goes sometimes. €10,000 for [being] five seconds [late], is disappointing.

"I hope, as I always say, that someone tells me where this €10,000 goes, and they say, 'OK at least it goes to a nice cause', and I'll be looking forward to see where [it goes]."

But The Race understands new Grand Prix Drivers' Association director Sainz is likely to escape a summons (and punishment) for swearing unlike Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, who were both disciplined for their language last year following an FIA clampdown.

Verstappen had to complete motorsport's equivalent of community service in Rwanda for using the F-word, while Leclerc was fined for the same thing - with an immediate apology reducing his penalty.

Because Sainz did not use the F-word and his remark was not insulting, it is more likely he will be reminded of his responsibilities rather than punished.

Sainz's fellow GPDA director George Russell said he accepted that drivers "have a duty to be there for the national anthem" but that various factors mean it is not "quite as straightforward as people might think" for them to arrive on time.

"We're often running to the toilet and there are sometimes just not toilets available between the time you jump out of the car and going to the anthem, then you get stopped by some people on the grid or people asking for a quick interview, for us to be there on time," said Russell. "It's not like we've got one sole job and that's only it.

"We're trying to take our moment before the grand prix and being there on that minute is sometimes not straightforward.

I appreciate it from F1's perspective because it's a very important moment of the race, but also from the driver's perspective, there are hard, genuine logistical issues that sometimes you're literally waiting to get into a bathroom cubicle."