A Formula 2 driver has been slapped with a fine after his father pushed and threatened another racer's trainer in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix paddock.
Cem Bolukbasi was ordered to pay £4,284.55 to the FIA as a result of his father's behaviour on Sunday. According to an official report released by motorsport's governing body, Yavuz Bolukbasi "provoked a heated verbal exchange" with the trainer of fellow racer Roy Nissany.
It happened after the two drivers were involved in an on-track incident earlier in the day. Bolukbasi Snr, along with his son's manager, made their way to the paddock tent of Nissany's team before losing his temper after believing he had heard a derogatory comment made towards his son.
That was when Mr Bolukbasi is alleged to have begun shouting, causing Nissany's trainer to get involved. The FIA's report said: "There was some pushing and physical contact between the father and the trainer," before adding that "no punches were exchanged and the unwanted guests were removed from the area".
"At no time will physical violence, nor the threat of such be tolerated," the stewards added. Under FIA rules drivers are responsible for the actions of those who have access to the paddock to support them, meaning Cem Bolukbasi is liable for the fine levied as punishment.
He was given 48 hours, as of 5.18pm on Sunday when the report was published, to pay the fine or risk the wrath of the FIA. As further punishment, Bolukbasi's father has also been banned from entering the paddock for the next F2 race, due to take place at Silverstone alongside the British Grand Prix.
The incident which sparked those ugly scenes had no happy outcome for either driver, as both had to retire from the race with damage. They had battled side-by-side heading into Turn 2 at the Baku track, but made contact and both cars were sent into the wall.
Bolukbasi was quick to claim that he had been innocent of any wrongdoing, and said: "He just f***ing hit me man." And Nissany was just as reluctant to accept any responsibility for the crash, branding his rival an "idiot" over team radio.
After the FIA's ruling, Bolukbasi's father released a statement of his own in which he said was "correcting the FIA statement". He claimed that Nissany was "swearing heavily" at him, before going on to say that all parties had since apologised to each other.
