Carlos Sainz learns unique FIA punishment after breaking swearing rule at Bahrain GP

will carry out an 'undetermined' action to 'make up for his swearing breach' after the racer broke the 's driver language rules ahead of the . The Spaniard was venting his frustration after he was fined £17,000 (€20,000), half of which was suspended, at the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend for being late for the national anthem ceremony.

Sainz's punishment would have been triple that value in regular circumstances, but his medical team presented evidence of a stomach issue that caused his slip-up. While protesting the decision in Thursday's driver press conference, the 30-year-old broke the unpopular swearing rules implemented by the FIA during the off-season. This put him at risk of receiving a financial penalty of £34,000 (€40,000).

"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 said in the FIA presser. "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."

For those following the driver language saga closely, Sainz's breach looked like a slam-dunk £34,000 fine - the bottom level of the FIA's new three-tier punishment system, which scales to £102,000 (€120,000). World Rally Championship star Adrien Fourmaux received a financial penalty for a similar breach earlier this year.

However, according to a report from , the FIA have opted against punishing Sainz with a fine. According to an FIA spokesperson, the Williams driver 'apologised for his conduct and would make up for the breach, in a manner to be determined'.

The general consensus among drivers is that while the swearing fines are needlessly harsh, it would be better for F1 stars not to swear in front of their young audiences. The national anthem late fees, however, have been more divisive. "I've got to be honest; I totally appreciate that we have a duty to be there for the national anthem, but it's not quite as straightforward as people may think for us to be there on time," Mercedes racer George Russell said.

"We're often running to the toilet, and there's sometimes just no toilets available between the time you jump out the car and go into the anthem, and then you get stopped by some people on the grid or people asking for a quick interview. So it's not like we've got one sole job, and that's only it. We're trying to take our moment for the grand prix, and being there on that minute is sometimes not straightforward."