Fernando Alonso penalized by 20 seconds at the Australian GP

Sixth at the checkered flag, Alonso loses two places and now finds itself ranked eighth. On the penultimate lap of the event, the driver Aston Martin was in a fight with George Russell. In turn 6, the Mercedes got very close, Russell lost the back of his car and hit the wall before finishing in the middle of the track.

The stewards ruled that Alonso drove in a "potentially dangerous" manner, after listening to both drivers. The Spaniard confirmed to the marshals that he had deliberately slowed down earlier in turn 6, in order to maximize his speed coming out of the corner, in preparation for the long straight that followed.

The decision of the commissioners:

“Car number 63 hit the wall exiting turn 6 on lap 57. The commissioners examined in detail the situation that occurred before the accident. Car 63 (George Russell) was following car 14 (Fernando Alonso) with a delay of around half a second approaching Turn 6. Alonso explained to the commissioners that he intended to approach Turn 6 differently, by lifting his foot earlier, and with less speed through the corner, in order to get a better exit.

Russell explained to commissioners that, from his perspective, the Alonso's maneuver was erratic, took him by surprise and caused him to close much faster. With the downforce decreasing in the corner, he lost control and had an accident exiting the corner. There was no contact between the two cars.

Telemetry shows Alonso lifted his foot just over 100m earlier than he had ever done in that corner during the race. He also braked very lightly in a place where he was not used to braking (carefully that le braking has summer si light and qu'il n'a to summer la reason main du slow-down de sa car). He also backslidden to a place where he wasn't used to.

He then shifted into gear before reaccelerating and then braking again to take the corner. Alonso explained his plan was to slow down early, but he was slightly wrong and that he had to take additional steps to regain his speed. However, this maneuver a created a speed de reconciliation considerable et unusual between The Car.

In considering the issue, commissioners focused solely on the wording of the regulation that stipulates that “at no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be considered potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person”. (Article 33.4)

In particular, in this case, the commissioners did not take into account the consequences of the accident. Additionally, the commissioners felt they did not have sufficient information to determine whether Alonso's maneuver was intended to cause problems for Russell, or whether, as he told the commissioners, he simply wanted to better emerge from the bend.

Should Alonso be allowed to try a different approach to the corner? - Yes.

Should Alonso be responsible for the turbulence that ultimately caused the incident? - No.

However, did he choose to do something, no matter the intention, that was extraordinary, i.e. slow down, braking, downshifting and all other elements of the maneuver de 100 meters early that previously, et carefully that ce here was toilet bag for simply SLOW DOWN early for le virage ? - Yes, from his own account of the incident. In doing these things, he drove in a manner that was at the very least "potentially dangerous" given the very high speeds at that point of the track.

This season, the FIA's penalty guidelines, including for this infraction, have been changed and replaced with a base penalty of 10 seconds. In addition, when there are aggravating circumstances, we consider a “Drive Through” type penalty. In the present case we consider that Alonso chose to perform an unusual maneuver at that time is an aggravating circumstance, as opposed to a simple error. »

Australian GP – New classification

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