Fernando Alonso says the scrutiny of his manoeuvre at the start of the last round in Russia shows similar incidents are treated differently in Formula 1.
The two-times world champion suggested the identity of the driver involved or even their nationality influences how incidents are perceived.Alonso gained positions by cutting across the run-off area at turn two during the start of the race. The move was not investigated by the stewards.
The Alpine driver had also driven through the run-off area before the race began. Asked during today’s FIA press conference by the moderator why he had done so, Alonso said: “Just to see the questions here in Istanbul.”
“Just to confirm when I do things they have a different behaviour and a different repercussion on the following event,” he added. “So now maybe they changed the run-off area in lap one, in the first couple of corners.”
Alonso has previously complained other drivers were not penalised for gaining an advantage by running wide during the first lap of races, even after he drew attention to the incidents.
Asked whether he feels he is under greater scrutiny than other drivers Alonso said the reaction to his Sochi tactics was “a confirmation of many things.”
“One that there are different rules for different people or different, let’s say, talks the week after for different people.
“Let’s see the next one that crosses the white line on the pit entry. Let’s see which nationality he is and which penalty he will get.”
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hunocsi (@hunocsi)
7th October 2021, 12:48
Yes, we know that, winner of the 2008 Singapore GP.
John H (@john-h)
7th October 2021, 12:52
Whilst Alonso trying to take the moral high ground is indeed somewhat ironic, he does have a point. He’s talking about Ricciardo of course.
Señor Sjon
7th October 2021, 14:47
Or Norris missing pit entry, which usually is a slam dunk penalty.
David BR (@david-br)
7th October 2021, 14:58
@john-h He may have a point, but where his argument falls down – through a lack of self-awareness – is that his move was so blatant and even rehearsed that of course he drew extra attention! That is what he wanted – by his own admission! So what did he expect? Plus there’s the fact he is Fernando Alonso, 2-times champion, and, by his own unbiased reckoning, drives his best ever race every race, so obviously every notices everything he does (OK, that bit might be a bit ironic). That being so, I really don’t see how nationality comes into it.
Personally I think he was right to point out that some drivers do exploit first lap leniency in the way he suggests, but he should have been told to give back all the places he took or risk a penalty.
Jason (@jmwalley)
7th October 2021, 19:25
Let’s also not forget that he has been pretty vocal about these things. I think he may have even said something a few weeks back that he should start taking advantage of this if it wont be enforced. I’d be surprised if he really thinks his bringing attention to it plus his clearly planning with his formation lap use of the run-off wasn’t going to lead to questions this weekend.
I assume the nationality comment is aimed at the British press supposedly being more leanient on British drivers and that his comment about the white line is referring to Norris and Hamilton ‘getting away with it’ while Tsunoda (and Mazepin?) have both been punished or verbally warned. I think he is comparing apples and oranges here and forgetting that he got no penalty for his move—though he clearly got more scrutiny from the press.
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
7th October 2021, 12:50
Did I miss something, Fernando?
I’m pretty sure you weren’t penalized for the move, just as you’re complaining others weren’t. Where do the “different rules apply” come in?
José Silva
7th October 2021, 13:07
He’s talking about the media. It’s not game rules, it’s media expectations and pressure.
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
7th October 2021, 13:10
Contrary to other drivers he did it on purpose to draw attention.
Then he complains about the attention?
I mean, as you say, he isn’t complaining about double standards in the stewarding, since he wasn’t given a penalty. So he’s complaining about getting what he wants.
John H (@john-h)
7th October 2021, 13:25
It’s a little odd. Everything he’s done makes complete sense up until that point, but the complaints don’t seem to match with what he was trying to highlight!
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
7th October 2021, 14:20
@john-h I have a feeling he had expected to get a penalty and backlash over his stunt, then when he didn’t he had no other option but to shift gears, even though there really wasn’t anything to shift to.
José Silva
7th October 2021, 17:22
He had already complained about this subject.
In fact, every F1 fan complains about asphalted run offs for years. I don’t understand the fuss about this. Alonso is just bringing a subject everyone accepts and agreeds, that F1 has partially turned into Mario Kart, especially in first laps.
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
7th October 2021, 16:22
@sjaakfoo
Not much relevant, is it? Intention is not a good decisive factor for the veredict.
He probably got what he didn’t want as well (beyond to prove his point). Any sort of attention that singles you out as a cheater (not the case by the rules, despite all the fuss about it) is unwarranted attention.
He received support or at least comprehension by a reasonable number of pundits and sites (even British) so not all is lost for him.
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
7th October 2021, 19:32
Then don’t cheat?
Mashiat (@mashiat)
7th October 2021, 19:35
@sjaakfoo You don’t think drivers did it intentionally in Austria? They floored their pedal and didn’t even attempt to properly make the corner.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
7th October 2021, 20:50
Absolutely, penalties happen even when not done purposefully, maybe only if you do something like schumacher in 1997 you get away with it if it’s proven it’s not intentional and not if it’s intentional.
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
7th October 2021, 13:09
Hahaha. I love him. I hope he talks about other hypocrisy in F1 too.
NS Biker (@rekibsn)
7th October 2021, 23:02
My bet is that he is orchestrating the whole thing to get the Stewards to stop drivers gaining a first lap advantage by running wide and off track.
He admitted he followed he rules in the early part of the season and came out the worse for doing it. Not sure of the Spanish translation, but it sounded like … “Not going to happen to me again.!”
You have to admire his moxy to force the Stewards to either not penalize all drivers for doing it or get off their butts and stop any or all of the drivers from gaining an advantage from running wide.
My bet, there will be a directive from the Stewards for those that run off track and how many places they need to give up on returning to the track.
Man I love it now that he is back. Sure missed the boy.
Hans Herrmann (@twentyseven)
7th October 2021, 13:33
See.. this is the type of F1 driver I want to watch, playing mind games with the media when he was clearly “at it” in Russia.. Much better than Max saying I don’t care if I finish second in the championship.. I’m not interested in watching non-emotional bots!! I want super emotional cunning foxes like Alonso to spice it up!
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
7th October 2021, 16:51
@twentyseven
Hum… Those comments coming from Max really took me by surprise. Is he trying to practice detachment or something? Are we seeing the first step of Zen apprentice Max’s journey? I’d find it nice, although could he at least dethrone Hamilton and Mercedes before he starts to become selfless and being happy regardless of the outcome?
I’m mostly joking, of course.
erikje
7th October 2021, 17:31
Then you still have to choose between emotional pr bots, like Lewis or big egos like Alonso.
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
7th October 2021, 18:25
erikje
Emotional pr bots, good description for the g.o.a.t. simulator. Does the expected dramatic show only for some to say: “See, he’s not a PR pushover”, whilst having most of the media on his side though…
Taylor
7th October 2021, 22:25
Nah, that was a Dutch middle finger to having to answer the same questions every week 😂
Broccoliface
7th October 2021, 13:56
Whilst i like Alonso, and i think he does have a point broadly speaking, it really does seem that he’s still seething over 2007 or something recently.
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
7th October 2021, 16:55
Broccoliface
It’s more than proved that anything Alonso does, there will be some who will say he’s still seething over 2007. Despite an enormous lack of evidence on it ever since… 2008!?
K (@sugoi)
7th October 2021, 14:18
He exposes media nationalism, as well as Hamilton exposes sport racism.
Obviously, this topic will get political. Both nationalism and racism are among the worst behaviors mankind is capable of, and are responsible of the biggest crimes of the latest centuries.
greasemonkey
7th October 2021, 14:59
It is unwise to over generalize terms, as abuse of language, especially the fallacy of: “A is evil, A is B, therefore B is evil”, which is easy to slip through where talking in normal language.
From wikipedia: “In practice, nationalism can be positive or negative, depending on its ideology and outcomes. Nationalism has been a feature of movements for freedom and justice, and inspired sacrifices for the public good. It has also been used to legitimize racial, ethnic, and religious divisions; suppress or attack minorities; and undermine human rights and democratic traditions.”
SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
7th October 2021, 14:20
He can’t seriously have expected Norris to be penalised for crossing the white line in that particular instance? On a wet track. With slicks. At such a low entry speed.
SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
7th October 2021, 14:21
And him basically saying Norris didn’t get penalised because of his British nationality is just ludicrous.
S
7th October 2021, 15:23
Why not?
Almost every other driver who has done it has been penalised for it. Conditions are irrelevant – the rule is permanent.
Well, the rules are supposed to be permanent and the same for everyone….
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
7th October 2021, 16:07
S
Evaluating conditions create a margin of subjectiveness in which nationalism may come into play. But I’m not certain that Alonso is right on that one (not sure if he’s wrong either).
LUCA (@luca)
7th October 2021, 19:32
German gp 2019 hamilton got a 5 sec penalty on the same condition, why did norris not?
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
7th October 2021, 20:37
Germany 2018 same issue no penalty, so?
LUCA (@luca)
7th October 2021, 23:02
so? when is applicable and when its not?
Mashiat (@mashiat)
7th October 2021, 19:38
@spafrancorchamps Germany 2019, Hamilton was on slicks in a damp track and with a broken front wing, and was handed a time penalty. I don’t think it was a nationality issue, I must add, but that should have been a penalty no doubt.
SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
7th October 2021, 21:05
@mashiat I disagree as Norris did his best to slow down but conditions were too extreme and it was safer for Norris to cross the white line than to drive another lap around the track.
Hamilton in Hockenheim should not had been a penalty either. Although that situation was different from Norris as Lando had already been in pit entry and Lewis had not.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
7th October 2021, 14:40
Alonso saying like it is. Nando always does nando first but who can blame him.
Decades of drivers going off at la source in order to take advantage, some consistently get penalties some don’t, austria is another one, mexico, sochi, etc. It is not just nationality, it is team politics.
The issue is not limited to the subjective t1 cuts but many other incidents. The russell swaparoo, the norris pit lane cut, leclerc austria leniency, ham non penalty and the list goes on and on.
Balue (@balue)
7th October 2021, 15:07
He has good points. The T1-trickery has been obvious for a while, and the white line pit entry has never been subject to lenience before from what I can remember.
Having just heard a steward say people’s reaction on social media to their decision was life-changing , it’s not a big leap to assume it matters a lot who they will consider penalizing and who they will rather refrain from penalizing.
After all, hypocrisy is F1’s middle name. Trouble is that this will of course bite Alonso, as challenging or even just questioning FIA doesn’t end well history has shown us.
Jere (@jerejj)
7th October 2021, 15:37
No one passed off-track in either Red Bull Ring race, but I get his moral point. He merely exploited a loophole, although Masi’s stance set a precedent, which means everyone will take a note for next season’s Russian GP, including returning Albon & debutant Zhou (likely).
Steve (@scbriml)
7th October 2021, 18:11
Expect rule clarifications or reprofiling of the corner to ensure no advantage is to be gained.
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
7th October 2021, 18:59
@jerejj
Technically Alonso didn’t overtake off-track at Sochi either, but the effect is about the same, given the loophole in the rules allow a run without intention to make the corner in order to keep track position by going outside the circuit. Those complaining about Alonso’s crafty solution over the lack of consistent track limits enforcement are just upset because it’s not their favourite driver doing it, as if any of those were that zealous about the “Spirit of the Rules” before… They must think we were born just yesterday or something like that!
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
7th October 2021, 17:59
Essentially, the rulebook is very different depending on who’s driving.
rodewulf (@rodewulf)
7th October 2021, 18:31
@freelittlebirds
It might be your point of view on this topic, but Alonso was clearly talking about the media.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
8th October 2021, 19:29
@rodewulf I’ve noticed that people never reply to you.
hyoko
7th October 2021, 21:43
Yes, other drivers are rewarded with meaningless time penalties (which of course do not lose them a single point) after full-blown murder attempts. No points for guessing what their nationality is.
Suffering Williams Fan
7th October 2021, 18:44
Have other drivers been exploring alternative routes through turns 1/2 on recon laps at other races though? (Not rhetorical)
I feel like the fact that he was seen taking this alternative route through turn 2 on a recon lap was what drew particular attention to the move. While other drivers have certainly bailed out and taken “short cuts” at the start of races, I’m not aware of other drivers having been observed apparently preparing for such eventualities pre-race.