Fernando Alonso, the driver of the Aston Martin, makes slight adjustments to his cap.
Although not bringing nationality into it again, Fernando Alonso has reiterated his belief that the stewards have been making “strange” decisions and that something needs to be done.
Fernando Alonso was fuming last time out in Miami when, on the back of his Sprint penalty in China for his antics against Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton was not penalised for arriving like a “bull” on the opening lap of the Miami Sprint.
Fernando Alonso: So I’m not the only one…
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
Before the verdict was announced, Alonso made it clear that the stewards would not penalize the Mercedes driver simply because he was not Spanish. He restated this point after the stewards decided that Hamilton would not be penalized, citing that the collision was not solely his fault.
“I do feel that nationality matters,” he said. “I need to make sure that there is not anything wrong with my nationality or anything that can influence any decision.”
Afterwards, Alonso had a discussion with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem; however, he believes that there are still additional conversations that should take place.
“He informed the media, PlanetF1.com included, that we will continue to have discussions, and it is evident that there is still much to be debated.”
From our perspective, we are currently engaged in ongoing discussions with drivers, the FIA, and the stewards regarding various matters including future regulations, driving standards, and penalties. However, we believe that the recent penalties have once again demonstrated some inconsistency.
“The constant truth remains: whenever accidents or investigations arise, divergent perspectives will emerge. Such is the inherent essence of our sport.”
However, in the past two or three years, there have been a few instances where both parties believed one thing and the referee believed something different, which is quite unusual in the world of sports.
“I came across an article the other day where Checo [Sergio Perez] and Logan [Sargeant] expressed their confusion about the penalties, and it gave me some reassurance that I wasn’t alone in thinking that we need to address this issue.”
Formula 1’s naughty step…
F1 penalty points: Kevin Magnussen on the edge of race ban after Miami punishments
Revealed: The most fined drivers and teams on the F1 2024 grid
Alonso: ‘That’s the biggest difficulty I think that we have’
Alonso has made a plea to the drivers, teams, and FIA to come together. Initially, the season began with a mindset of “let them race,” but now there is a pervasive sense of uncertainty regarding what actions are acceptable and what will result in penalties.
Alonso added that they always strive to race aggressively while maintaining a strict policy of avoiding any contact.
It is evident that these cars are highly sensitive, as even a slight venture into the gravel at the extended Imola track leads to a Did Not Finish (DNF) due to car damage, resulting in a significant decrease in speed.
Furthermore, our utmost priority is to avoid any form of contact, but we understand that in the competitive world of motor racing, there are instances where we have to push ourselves to the limit, even if it leads to occasional contact.
“Indeed, we simply need to prioritize simplicity. Everyone aims to progress, to learn from errors, and to enjoy a more relaxed weekend. Even the process of qualifying is challenging, as a line of cars awaits outside the garage in the pit lane.”
Whether or not you have enough time to complete a lap is uncertain; it depends on the individuals currently in control and their decision of when to engage first gear and start moving. Your fate is not in your own hands, and you can’t do much about it. These circumstances are all unfamiliar and unprecedented.
“We must address and improve upon those matters. However, it is essential for all of us – the FIA, teams, and drivers – to collaborate and tackle them collectively.”
“We must prioritize unity in this matter as there are instances where we, the drivers, lack solidarity not just within our own teams but also among each other. Disputes between drivers and teams arise, leading to disagreements. This, in my opinion, poses the greatest challenge, but I remain hopeful that we can overcome it.”
Read next: ‘Utterly harrowing’ – When ‘Drive to Survive’ meant something completely different in F1
