Nine Australian fans were arrested after the Malaysian Grand Prix for stripping down to their underpants while celebrating Daniel Ricciardo's victory.
The men, who were also imitating Ricciardo's shoey from their own boots, stripped down to reveal underwear carrying the Malaysian flag while on the track during the podium ceremony. The pictures below was widely circulated on social media.
Shame on those Aussies by doing this. So inappropriate #nochill pic.twitter.com/jm7xfCFOCP
— Nik Asyraaf (@nikasyraaf) October 2, 2016
They will find out on Thursday whether they will be charged or prosecuted --- if convicted, they could face up to six months in jail, a fine, or both. According to Sky News, one of the men arrested is an adviser to Australia's defence minister Chris Payne.
Speaking to the New Straits Times, Sepang circuit chief Datuk Razlan Razali said the fans had disrespected the Malaysian flag and deserved jail time.
"This shows a huge lack of respect to us Malaysians. This is stupid behaviour from foreigners who have no sense of cultural sensitivity and respect," the newspaper quotes him as saying. "They deserve to be locked up, investigated and taken action against.
"It embarrasses their own country as well -- it gives Australians a bad name."
Australian deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce said the fans' behaviour was "stupid", but thinks the outcry has been overblown.
"You're in a nation, you've got to be careful in what you do," he said. "But I'm sure -- well, I'm hoping, the Malaysians will understand that I don't think there's any real malice in it. Stupidity? Obviously. Malice? No."