Lando Norris issues apology following expletive remark at Las Vegas Grand Prix
Sky Sports issued an apology after McLaren’s Lando Norris used profanity during a post-race interview at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he finished in second place behind Max Verstappen, reports BritPanorama.
The 26-year-old made the explicit comment while reflecting on his costly incident at the first corner, stating, “I f****d it up.” This breach of established FIA media guidelines occurred during the official podium interviews, triggering Sky Sports to address the situation.
Despite the inappropriate language, racing officials determined that Norris would not face any sporting sanctions. His comment, although against media policy, has been noted in the context of tighter regulations on swearing during broadcasts that were introduced in 2024. The FIA has confirmed that Norris’s performance remains unaffected following the incident.
Norris had initially secured pole position but lost his advantage early on due to an aggressive move against Verstappen, misjudging his braking point. This mistake allowed both Verstappen and George Russell to overtake him. After the race, Norris commented lightheartedly, “I let Max have a win. Let him go, let him have a nice race!” He later acknowledged, “I just braked too late – it was my f*** up.”
The incident underscores the FIA’s renewed focus on media conduct, with recent guidelines established to mitigate language that could be deemed inappropriate during public engagements. Following negotiations, it was agreed that while radio communications would remain exempt, swearing during official media duties might lead to potential penalties.
Despite Norris’s slip-up, he continues to maintain his position in the championship, recently extending his lead over teammate Oscar Piastri by 30 points with two rounds left to go. As the Formula 1 calendar winds down, the focus will remain on how drivers navigate both the intense competition and the scrutiny that comes with life in the public eye.
In the thrilling world of Formula 1, moments of levity are often shadowed by the constant pressure of performance; Norris’s candidness serves as a reminder that even under the spotlight, drivers remain human, prone to slips just like the rest of us.
