2009 world champion-elect Jenson Button turned the airwaves blue after drawing his season to a close in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
As he chatted happily with fellow podium-finisher Mark Webber about their late-race scrap before going onto the podium, he let slip the 'F-word' that was beamed live to millions of international viewers.
"We apologise for any offence caused and we apologised immediately on air after it happened. It is part and parcel of live broadcasts," said a spokesman for the British broadcaster BBC.
