Fernando Alonso argues the stewards are inconsistent in how they award penalties. He points towards the incident between Russell and Verstappen in Qatar qualifying as an important case study.
Alonso: Sometimes you wonder if you would have the same treatment
There are few drivers who speak their mind as freely as Fernando Alonso.
The Double World Champion isn’t afraid of talking about hot topics – including the latest row between George Russell and Max Verstappen.
Although Alonso doesn’t have anything to saw about Russell and Verstappen individually, he’s made some comments about the penalty Verstappen received in Qatar.
The Spaniard argues that the penalty given to the Dutchman in qualifying is not applied consistently.
Speaking to the media in Abu Dhabi, he elaborated on this issue:
“I’m OK, I’m relaxed. I’m just saying that sometimes when they apply a rule or penalty for someone – then why we don’t follow that path?
“In the next races, [it’s] not applicable anymore. You know, depending sometimes on which nationality you are.
“If I do that, I would not receive the same benefit as George did there.
“Or maybe my incident in Australia. Contactless, 30 metres away from me, someone goes off track and I get the penalty.
“So sometimes you wonder, if you switch the positions and you are the other guy, if you will have the same treatment.”
Penalty decisions under persistent scrutiny
The stewards have become a major talking point in recent weeks, with various incidents receiving huge scrutiny.
A number of clashes between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen across 2024 have heightened the pressure on the stewards to be consistent in their decisions.
More recently, the 10 second stop-and-go penalty given to Norris in the Qatar GP has dominated headlines.
In a sport where the stakes are so high, it is inevitable that penalties are regularly analysed and discussed. This is especially true when – as F1 has seen this season – the field becomes more competitive and every place counts.
Fernando Alonso, whilst one of F1’s most outspoken figures, is hardly the only driver to voice their concerns.
Throughout the season, there has been plenty of conversation about the rules of engagement in wheel-to-wheel battles.
Looking ahead to next season, the FIA will look to establish a clearer set of guidelines for drivers to follow and stick to.
