FIA changes grid locations after Ocon and Alonso penalties

The pilots' voices seem to have been heard. After two Grands Prix this year, as many drivers have been sanctioned for a wrong position on the grid at the start: Esteban Ocon in Bahrain and Fernando Alonso in Saudi Arabia. Penalties considered too severe (5 seconds) by most personalities in the paddock who believe that things should perhaps be reviewed.

At the end of the Saudi event, George Russell, president of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), did not hesitate to be critical of these recent decisions. “ I feel like some of these sanctions have been a little too extreme, confided the pilot Mercedes. I think you have to use a little common sense. I think that'[alonso] was a little to the left [at the beginning], but he gained nothing from it. Maybe a five second penalty is too much »

The FIA ​​takes action

Faced with this situation, the FIA ​​has decided to act in the direction of the drivers. Indeed, new grid locations will be tested from the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend.

On Australian soil, the locations have thus received the addition of two white lines placed in the middle of them to allow pilots to better find their way when returning to them. In addition, they have been enlarged by 20 centimeters as we can see in the tweet from our colleague Albert Fabrega below. Finally, the yellow line at the front is now wider.

The Australian food parrilla cajetines are about 20cms longer.

Starting grid boxes in Australia are now 20 cms wider. #f1 #AustralianGP
???? @PressRacing pic.twitter.com/Mc8ZbJKzfN

- Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) March 30, 2023

With all these modifications, the FIA's goal is logically to help drivers better find their way when returning to the grid. It is true that with the addition of the halo, the arrival of 18-inch tires or even the size of F1 which continues to grow, visibility has become problematic for pilots. A helping hand very well received by Fernando Alonso, or almost.

« The central line? I do not think so (that she will help) since you arrive at your location looking to the sides and not the front, underlined the Spaniard, above all happy to see that modifications have been made to try to resolve the problem. The 20 centimeters will help (...) No one wants to be penalized for leaving.

I think the FIA ​​don't want to have any problems with this because there is no performance advantage to be had, as long as you don't exceed it (the location). »

It remains to be seen whether this update will allow players to avoid new sanctions.

ALSO READ > Russell calls out the FIA ​​and its “too extreme” penalties