Fernando Alonso took goal at the FIA as he confronted the media after having the one hundredth podium of his Formula 1 profession stripped from him.
Alonso seemed to have secured back-to-back third-placed finishes to start out the brand new season with a wonderful efficiency on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He took to the rostrum as typical and was handed his trophy and champagne to rejoice.
However whereas all that was occurring, the stewards have been reviewing footage of his pit cease and deciding whether or not he had adequately served a five-second penalty throughout the race. Ultimately, they deemed that he hadn’t and added an extra 10 seconds to his final race time.
That meant George Russell was promoted to 3rd place, getting the trophy and three additional factors misplaced by Alonso. The Spaniard was smiling as he mentioned he was not too bothered about that, however nonetheless slammed the FIA for taking so lengthy to make the decision.
He mentioned: “It would not harm a lot to be sincere! I used to be on the rostrum – I did the images, took the trophy, celebrated with the champagne and now I apparently have three factors much less. I haven’t got 15, I’ve 12.
“The FIA, a poor present right now – greater than disappointment from ourselves. You can’t apply a penalty 35 laps after the pit cease. They’d greater than sufficient time to actually inform in regards to the penalty. If I knew about it, perhaps I might have opened 11 seconds to the automobile behind. So right now, I believe we did not placed on a great present for our followers.
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Sky Sports activities)
“No-one advised me this, they only advised me the 5 seconds within the first stint and I opened seven or eight. After which within the second there was no data in any respect, not even that I used to be being investigated. I care, however I do not care that a lot. I celebrated and now I’ve three factors much less, so now it is straight to the restoration in Australia.”
Russell had a classy response to the penalty as he voiced his sympathy for Alonso. The Mercedes man mentioned: “I am happy to come back residence in P4, however I believe the penalty for Fernando was fairly harsh.
“They’re deserving podium finishers right now. However I am going to take an additional trophy, so I am not complaining an excessive amount of.” TV cameras additionally confirmed Russell give Alonso an enormous hug after the information of the penalty had been introduced.
