Rally Sweden stewards handed Adrien Fourmaux a €10,000 ($10,500) fine, with a further €20,000 ($21,000) suspended for 12 months, for using “inappropriate language” during live streamed coverage of the FIA World Rally Championship event’s closing power stage.

Hyundai factory driver Fourmaux endured a frustrating rally, having been among a five-way fight for the overall win until dropping time after forgetting to fasten his helmet before the start of Saturday’s second special stage and then beaching his i20 N Rally1 in a snowbank two stages later.

Having rejoined the rally on Sunday, the Frenchman was further hampered by running first on the road in the WRC’s only true snow and ice event, effectively acting as a surface sweeper for the following cars.

Fourmaux set fifth fastest time on the rally-ending power stage, salvaging a single point from his weekend, before noting during his stage-end interview for the WRC’s Rally.TV streaming service: “…we f****d up yesterday.”

That comment was deemed by the stewards to have breached FIA Article 12.2.1.l of the 2025 FIA International Sporting Code.

The stewards’ report states that, when summoned, Fourmaux explained “he was referring to the mistake(s) he had made on the previous day (Saturday, February 15th, 2025) and that he used the words in a colloquial and descriptive way, in the sense that he had made a mistake. He apologized as he did not mean to offend or insult anyone by using those words.”

It went on to state: “The stewards reminded the driver and the team representative of the stance of the FIA regarding not only inappropriate language but also verbal/physical abuse, and making/displaying political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its statutes.

“The stewards and the FIA acknowledge that the words in question have unfortunately become common colloquialisms. However, it is essential to emphasize that this does not diminish the fact that such language is widely regarded as profanity and is inappropriate in public discourse, including live television broadcasts.”

Stewards added: “In determining the appropriate penalty for this breach, the Stewards have considered the following mitigating circumstances:

· This is his first instance of the Driver being summoned before the Stewards for such an infringement.

· English is not the Driver’s native language. The expression used is a rather colloquial term in certain cultures and was not intended to be offensive. The driver has acknowledged that it was a lapse in judgment, expressed in the heat of the moment immediately after finishing SS18 Umea (Powerstage).

· The remark was self-referential, directed solely at the driver’s own performance, and was not aimed at any other individual or entity. There is no evidence to suggest that it meant to cause offense to any other party.

· The driver immediately recognized the inappropriate nature of the comment and issued an unprompted apology to the Stewards and the FIA. Furthermore, he voluntarily committed to posting a public apology on his social media account, which has since been published.

· The driver has assured the Stewards that he shall exercise greater caution in the future.”

Fourmaux’s fine comes as drivers competing in any FIA-sanctioned championship can be subject to fines, month-long bans and deductions of points for repeat criticisms of the governing body or misconduct such as swearing.

The topic of drivers using language deemed inappropriate became significant in the latter half of 2024 after an attempted clampdown by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen was mandated to carry out “some work of public interest” for using an expletive to describe his car’s handling during a press conference in Singapore, leading to him offering little in the way of responses during the official FIA press conferences, and instead carry out impromptu media sessions outside.

A recently added appendix to the International Sporting Code outlines the penalties available to event stewards for misconduct — including swearing — and “any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA.” Size of fines is based on the profile of the championship, with F1 fines the highest.