F1
“The best drivers will always bother”: Alonso’s penalty does not go down with the actors
© Frédéric Le Floc'h / DPPI
At first glance, it seemed like a trivial incident in which George Russell simply lost control of his Mercedes continuing theAston Martin de Fernando Alonso behind him. But upon closer analysis of the images and data, it turned out that the Spaniard's tactic of braking earlier to better prepare for his exit was the trigger for the accident. Between the surprise of seeing his counterpart begin braking a few dozen meters before and the aerodynamic disturbances, the Englishman was trapped, finishing his Grand Prix on the side.
Summoned shortly after the finish, Fernando Alonso did not escape the penalty, receiving a 20-second penalty. Sixth under the checkerboard, he fell back to 8e place right in front of both Haas de Nico Hulkenberg et Kevin Magnussen. According to official documents, the double world champion was singled out for driving in a " potentially dangerous » thus repeating the lines of article 33.4 of the sporting regulations.
AWESOME RUSSELL CRASH 😱
George Russell loses the back of his car in the last lap 🤯
The pilot is fine!#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/8olhO4fgNO— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) March 24, 2024
Alonso supported on the canvas
A decision which quickly set fire to the powder, starting with the person concerned himself, “ be surprised » of the sanction. “ At no time do we want to do anything bad at these speeds, he wrote on his accounts. I think that without gravel in this corner, or in any corner, we would never have been under investigation.
In F1, with more than 20 years of experience, with epic duels like Imola 2005 and 2006 or Brazil 2023, changing trajectory, sacrificing entry speed to have good corner exits is part of the art of sport automobile. We never drive 100% on every lap of the race and every corner, we save fuel, tires, brakes, and so it's a bit surprising to be responsible for not doing the same lap two times in a row."
It was enough for some of his counterparts, from other backgrounds in motorsport, to come to his defense. “ WTF, joked Raffaele Marciello, BMW Hypercar driver, on, surprised by the decision. You can no longer brake 5 meters earlier to prepare for the exit (from the bend) ? When I say 5 meters, it's the same as 100 or 50. What Alonso did is something we all do, and always will. To better prepare for the outing, we do lift and coast and let's go! Russell made a mistake by not being aware, lost the opportunity to overtake him and was surprised by the loss of downforce. » Finally, the Italian launched a final message full of irony. “The problem is… the best drivers will always bother »
When I say 5mt, is the same if Is 100mt or 50mt.
What Alo did is something we always did, and we will always do. To prepare better exit, lift and coast and so on! RUS did a mistake not do be aware and lost a chance to overtake and got surprised by the lost of downforce. https://t.co/tFZEprX50N— Raffaele Marciello (@Team_RMarciello) March 24, 2024
Louis Deletraz also went there with his little outing making a link with the Sergio Pérez-Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi in 2021. At the time, the Mexican's big defense which significantly slowed down the Englishman and allowed Max Verstappen to hang up the wagon had been almost revered. “ So Pérez slowing down Hamilton by several seconds in the third sector in Abu Dhabi for the world champion title is good but not this one (Alonso's maneuver) ? Very bad decision. It's racing, if we're behind it's our job to overtake and react to the car in front. »
So Perez slowing down Hamilton multiple seconds in Sector 3 at Abu Dhabi for the world champ is fine but this not?
Terrible call 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻 It's racing, if we're behind it's our job to pass and react to the car ahead. https://t.co/DSe7UXltPv
— Louis Delétraz (@LouisDeletraz) March 24, 2024
« Stupid! a French motorsport player commented to us, pointing out the leniency of the commissioners on other incidents sometimes. It’s part of driving, especially on a final lap. They penalize less drivers who zigzag! »
Is this the right decision? The race management will always defend itself by arguing that it applied the regulations. But when the pilots themselves decide to speak up, maybe there is something wrong...
ALSO READ > Alonso 'surprised' by his penalty for Russell's exit
Gonzalo Forbes
In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
25/03/2024 at 09:17 a.m.
The commissioners are not consistent from one race to another, hence a surprising leniency in certain cases with zigzag defenses and decisions which make many drivers react retrospectively. Defending in a final lap is an art and a certainty, Alonso is not the last of the rogues!
Jacques Morin
25/03/2024 at 02:14 a.m.
I add a layer to what I wrote about the other article. WHETHER it is this pilot or that, that is not the question. What was frankly unsporting about Alonso's maneuver? He was trying to defend his position while he was plagued by multiple problems including an accelerator problem, as his engineer confirmed to him live. Surprising, moreover, that Mercedes did not inform Russell of this. Nobody watches the opponents' on-board cams live??? There is obviously a delay in communications because while he was on the side, his engineer gave Russell his position in relation to the other competitors... (at least that's what I think I heard). In short, yesterday, Alonso didn't park at Rascasse ;-)
SYLVAIN DUCREUX
25/03/2024 at 01:59 a.m.
The same maneuver coming from a Hamilton or a Leclerc, I would have cried scandal like many... but this done by Alonso, I am more doubtful, he is extremely clever, the old one! :-p