Fernando Alonso wants the FIA to pay more attention to drivers abusing track limits than clamping down on post-race celebrations.
The Alpine driver claimed two of his rivals overtook him on lap one of last weekend’s race at the Red Bull Ring by going off at the first corner. Alonso went into the uphill right-hander alongside Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly, who ran wide but rejoined ahead of him.The pair then made contact and fell behind Alonso. He pointed out Formula 1’s governing body was quick to warn Max Verstappen over his post-race burn-out, but said nothing about his rivals gaining an advantage by leaving the circuit.
“I like when you can be yourself,” said Alonso.
“This burnout, I think it was nice to watch. Even the doughnuts sometimes in Abu Dhabi, I think the fans, they like that, and you see a lot of videos from those moments on social media.
“I think the FIA should police more the track limits. In turn one I was the only one making a move into turn one at the start and the two cars that I overtook they missed turn one and they exit in front of me.
“And for example, there is no warnings on that and there is on the burn-out. So there are things that for sure we can improve for the fans’ point of view.”
Gasly has also questioned why the FIA did not look into the subsequent collision between him and Leclerc, which ended the AlphaTauri driver’s race.
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S
1st July 2021, 15:10
Monitor track limits, you say?
But this is F1…
PMP (@pejuee)
1st July 2021, 15:42
Alonso sounds more like a future FIA president every week. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s aiming for that with an agenda that he will work for fans (and drivers).
Antilochos
1st July 2021, 16:03
I don’t think I would mind that scenario, although don’t believe it will happen.
PMP (@pejuee)
1st July 2021, 18:58
Time will tell if the ambition truly is there and if he can play his cards right. I’ve heard that he is pretty political by nature.
PMP (@pejuee)
1st July 2021, 18:59
alonso joking about fia presidency
bosco moroz
1st July 2021, 21:15
Well, wait for Spa, definitely will see more of the overtaking off the track after turn 1. I remember some years ago, Alonso himself passed quite a few cars and was able to keep the advantage. I do agree with him completely on this however. Clean proper racing by the best in the business is what fans expect. That was hardly a burnout either, but quite cool way to get back up to speed.
Pull up a Kevin Harvick race win and watch a real burnout.
Jere (@jerejj)
1st July 2021, 16:50
Norris also went off alongside Perez, but no one questioned that. Nevertheless, neither he, Leclerc, nor Gasly gained a lasting advantage from doing so because of the sausage curb.
F1oSaurus (@)
1st July 2021, 16:52
So if they dropped behind Alonso immediately after, what is there still to do for the stewards?
Agree though that drivers get away with off track overtaking too often. Especially on the opening lap.
jff
1st July 2021, 16:59
He was talking about the ‘warning’ issued by Masi (not the stewards).
erikje
1st July 2021, 19:57
read the text
So an advantage!
Only after this they fell behind:
Jim from US (@jimfromus)
1st July 2021, 20:01
1st lap anything and everything is fine.