MP Motorsports, racing 𒅌in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) series, were hit with a suspended fine of €2,000 (£1,700).

A clash between MP driver Sami Meguetounif and Van Amersfoort’ওs Joshua Dufek at Spa last weekend caused the furore.

The FIA Stewards deemed it a “racing incident” and communicated their decision in a WhatsApp group that ♛includes team members.

But the Stewards noted the response: “After stewards decision 17 (involving an MP Motorsport driver) was posted on the Notice Board WhatsApp group, a team member of MP Motorsport displayed an emoticon symbolising ‘a 𒈔swirl of brown poo’ and removed it after a few minutes, to replace it with a new emoticon symbolising ‘a clown’ and removed it after a few minutes.”

The Stewards ruled it to be a breach o💮f sporting regulations.

“Any behaviour non-compliant with the spirit of the Championship, included breach of morals and sporting ethics, nuisance to the higher interests of motor sport, moral or material lo🦩ss suffered by officials on the part of a member of a team/compet💟itor, a driver, or his entourage, will be the subject of sanctions,” they noted.

“The stewards determined that afore🌺mentioned comments were not appropriate as it was disrespectful of the decision ta𝓰ken.”

The fine is suspended until the end of ౠthe year and must be paid if there is a repeat offence.

The MP Motorsport☂s team member who posted the emojis has been removed from the WhatsApp group.