Fernando Alonso is under investigation for failing to respect double waved yellow flags during qualifying for the Turkish Grand Prix.
The stewards have summoned Alonso and a representative of his Alpine team over the incident, which occured in the early stages of Q1.The incident occured as several drivers queue up to begin their first laps at the start of Q1. Carlos Sainz Jnr spun his Ferrari at the first corner, and continued.
The two McLaren drivers passed through the scene, followed by Max Verstappen, who also spun. The Red Bull looped through 360 degrees and slowed at the exit of turn one, but also continued.
The next car on the scene belonged to Lance Stroll, who lifted for the double waved yellow flags as Verstappen accelerated away ahead of him.
Alonso arrived after the Aston Martin driver and was told “another double yellow” by race engineer Karel Loos. He did not appear to back off, but within five seconds was given the message “clear now”. Alonso carried on and completed his lap, setting a time of 1’29.589 which put him third at that point. Stroll’s lap time was over 15 seconds slower.
During the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix weekend Sebastian Vettel was given a five-place grid drop for failing to respect double waved yellow flags after the stewards found he did not abandon a lap after passing them.
Alonso went on to qualify in sixth place, but will move up to fifth as a result of Lewis Hamilton’s 10-place grid penalty.
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AMG44 (@amg44)
9th October 2021, 15:57
This cheat should have been penalized for Sochi lap 1 too
Yaru (@yaru)
9th October 2021, 16:13
I mean, he was following the rules for that one as far as what stewards have allowed this season.
Before Sochi he has been on the record the loophole is stupid and ridiculous and said he will use it next time. And he did.
https://www.racefans.net/2021/07/05/alonso-feels-a-little-bit-stupid-for-obeying-track-limits-at-start/
ajpennypacker (@ajpennypacker)
9th October 2021, 16:38
Oh hush. 2007 was a long time ago. Get over it.
DaveW (@dmw)
9th October 2021, 16:00
I believe the most important issue here is whether a British driver has received a penalty for the same infraction.
ajpennypacker (@ajpennypacker)
9th October 2021, 16:39
Oh you don’t wanna stir that pot. We’ve really got a problem in F1 with that
Jere (@jerejj)
9th October 2021, 16:02
He should get cleared if the latter yellow zone became green before he’d reached it.
Balue (@balue)
9th October 2021, 16:04
The flag was waved and Alonso did brake, but at the same time he would normally brake for T1. Coming out of the corner there wasn’t a single car to be seen anywhere, and I guess Alonso either gambled it was over, or he didn’t see the yellow flag to begin with.
But of course after critizing the stewards, there will be no mitigiating circumnstances, common sense or lenience in any ruling, so this will drop him back for sure.
DeanR (@deanr)
9th October 2021, 16:24
Oh Nando! What a silly sausage.
The limit
9th October 2021, 19:55
I am wondering if Fernando’s recent criticisms of race officials may have played some part in this. To suggest that they are biased may not have gone down well behind closed doors and was always going to come back and bite Alonso. He criticized Honda some years back in public and now they may well power Max Verstappen to a world championship. Fernando hasn’t been in the championship hunt for a decade or so, and a lot of that rests on bad career moves on his part. People have long memories!