Carlos Sainz faces a potential £8,500 (€10,000) fine from the FIA after he was judged to be late for the national anthem at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Spaniard was called to the stewards after the chequered flag on Sunday. If Sainz's alleged breach of Article 19.4 of the sporting regulations is upheld, then the 30-year-old could become the first driver punished over a national anthem ceremony slip-up since Yuki Tsunoda at the Canadian Grand Prix last year.

After visiting the stewards last year, the stewards reported: "The team stated that they failed to inform the driver about the timing adequately and therefore caused the delay, but it is also the responsibility of the driver to arrive in time. It is noted that the driver, once made aware of his mistake, took every reasonable effort to attend the National Anthem as soon as possible."

"It is noted that the driver, once made aware of his mistake, took every reasonable effort to attend the National Anthem as soon as possible." Tsunoda's breach fetched an £8,500 fine for the Faenza-based team.

Sainz had already breached the FIA regulations twice at the Japanese GP. The four-time Grand Prix winner picked up an £850 (€1,000) fine for breaching the pit lane speed limit by 13.7km/h in FP3.

Then, in qualifying, Sainz impeded Lewis Hamilton at Turn One. The Madrid-born racer was on the inside of the corner but wandered to the centre of the racetrack, forcing Hamilton to abort his flying lap.

After visiting the stewards, Sainz was slapped with a three-place grid penalty, dropping him behind Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda into a P15 grid slot for the Grand Prix on Sunday.

"The driver of Car 55 stated that he did not have any warning from the team, of the approach of Car 44 on a push lap," the stewards explained. "He stated that he was caught completely by surprise and because of the approach speed of Car 44, and the angle of his car, he could not see Car 44 in his mirrors.

"However, notwithstanding the above, the team had ample warning that Car 44 was on an out lap whilst Car 55 was on its push lap. Also, more than 8 seconds elapsed from when it was obvious Car 44 was not going into the pits, and hence was going to start a push lap, and when Car 55 could have taken appropriate action if the driver had been warned by the team."