F1 slaps Carlos Sainz with a huge 20,000-euro fine for taking a bathroom break

Williams driver Carlos Sainz was slapped with a huge 20,000-euro fine for taking a bathroom break during the 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. The Spaniard had stomach issues before the race started during the National anthem. 

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Reason for Carlos Sainz's huge fine

He missed the national anthem and arrived late to the race. Despite giving his excuses, the F1 and race organisers slapped sainz with a hefty fine. Half of the fine was suspended after he gave assurance that he would not repeat the same mistake in the next 12 months. 

The officials acknowledged his health issues, but at the same time, they also wanted to consider respecting the national anthem. This was not the first time that Carlos Sainz faced such a penalty; he previously faced a similar situation during the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, where he had a similar kind of issue before the national anthem. 

Carlos had issues even during his junior days at Torro Rosso and Renault. In one race, he retired because he had severe stomach pain. Last year, he had an appendix surgery and was unavailable for the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. 

He later raced at the Australian GP and won the race for Ferrari. Now he is racing for the Williams team, and his inputs are working well for the team. But Sainz is still not 100% confident with the car, as his teammate Alex Albon has scored points in all three races this year.

Williams Racing wants to bring back its old legacy in the next few years, and Sainz will play a major role in bringing the team back to their prime. Next year, F1 will implement new regulations that will allow every team to shine. But before that, Sainz should adapt well to the car and show consistency. The team culture at Williams will definitely help him find his rhythm back, and we hope Carlos scores points in the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.

Also Read: Ranking the top 5 winners & losers of the 2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix.