What is the “expensive poo” incident in F1? All about Carlos Sainz’s costly and comical moment on the track

| Global Sports Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jan 16, 2026, 00:34 IST

Formula 1 is a sport of split-second accuracy, drama, and colossal fines, but a few stories have been as bizarre and discussed as the case of Carlos Sainz in Japan in 2025 during a Grand Prix. When the Williams driver was fined by the FIA for failing to sing the national anthem on the grid at Suzuka, the incident was immediately memed, joked about, and turned into a hot, debatable topic all over the paddock and in the media.

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Sainz gave the reason that he had been experiencing some sudden stomach problems just before the pre-race anthem, and he was rushed to the hospital, which made him arrive a few seconds late. Although stewards admitted the extenuating circumstances, a doctor confirmed the discomfort. Still, he incurred a 20,000-euro penalty under FIA rules for punctuality at official ceremonies, but later, that fine was suspended for no repeat offences.

Why has it become known as the 'expensive poo'?

The case itself became a living one courtesy of comments from other drivers and commentators. Mercedes driver George Russell, who is also the representative of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, jokingly said that Sainz's bathroom break had become a pretty expensive poo and that this was the ridiculousness of the situation when the call of nature conflicted with strict F1 procedures.
Sainz himself responded publicly, calling the fine disproportionate because it stemmed from a five-second delay. He even joked about possible other fines after making swears during the press remarks regarding the entire affair, another rule that the FIA had become stricter on in 2025.

Although it is a funny side story in the history of Formula 1, the incident involving the expensive poo highlighted the serious debate about how much regulation and reality go hand in hand in Formula 1, and that even the use of the loo can become a headliner.

FIA rules, driver backlash, and wider debate

Along with the jokes, the incident sparked an intense discussion in Formula 1. Drivers challenged the need to enforce ceremonial rules to an extreme, leaving human realities with no space. The Grand Prix Drivers Association openly defended Sainz, saying there should be greater discretion in health-related situations.

Although the incident will be remembered with a smile, it also made the tension between rigid rules and reasonable justice in modern Formula 1 clear: even an incident off-track can have an impact on the sport.

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