Fernando Alonso was left to question the integrity of the rules post race in Austin after his run-ins and the problem of overtaking outside the track was once again pushed into the limelight.
With Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi overtaking Alpine’s Alonso off track and having to give the place back and Kimi Raikkonen doing the same but not having to give the place back, it left Alpine and Alonso frustrated which led to passive aggressive interactions between the French team and the race director, Masi.
Alonso felt Raikkonen should have given the place back and once he didn’t this bitterness was taken into the fight with Giovinazzi with both drivers attempting to pass off track and the Spaniard the eventual winner after conceding the place back first time round with the Italian – although the Alpine racer noted that he just wanted to finish in points.
As has been the case for some time, Alonso was once again a focal point of stewards discussions this weekend in America and was left to wonder how consistent the implementation of the rules are. When asked if the stewards are more inconsistent now and if we need to change. “No, I don’t think that we need anything,” he said to written media. “The rule is very clear. So, we just need to put in place the rule.”
He went on to compare it to football where the rules are more clear and consistent. “When you go in football, and you take the ball inside area with a hand, it is a penalty,” said Alonso. “So, there is no clarification of the rule. You just need to take the decision and say that this is a penalty. Because if not, everyone will be inside the area with the ball in his hand.” Arbitrary rule enforcement will leave the rules not only open to interpretation but undermines their integrity.
Obviously, F1 is very different to football in the sense that with every situation in F1 there are so many variables to consider which is why sometimes penalties are given and sometimes they are not. Whereas with football it is night and day whether something is a penalty or not. “So we don’t need any, any modification we just need to implement the rules when it happens,” added Alonso.
It’s been a debate for a few years now. The inconsistency from the stewards in terms of decision making and enforcing the rules. F1 is such a unique sport that every situation is different and from the outside what might look like a stonewall penalty, all factors considered, it may not be. Has this level of inconsistency got worse though in the last few years?
“I guess so, because it depends who does it,” said Alonso, recalling the Sochi discussions. “I think in Sochi, I missed Turn 1, and in Turkey, Thursday. It was a hot topic the Sochi Turn 1. Here with not forcing people, there were like three cars in Turn 1 one going out, by their own decision. So, let’s see if in Mexico it is a hot topic, or it is just all fine, because Fernando didn’t make any off track.”
Alonso is confident, as usual, that he didn’t do anything wrong. Nevertheless, starting the from the back, the Spaniard drove a great race and put on a show with some great battles like we saw with the two Alfa Romeos until he retired due to a mechanical issue.
Race director Masi, who was embroiled in conversations during the race with a disgruntled Alpine pit wall doesn’t have any issues with Alonso in particular. “I think it is funny how the incidents come up,” he said to written media. “I treat each and every incident and have a look at each and every one regardless of who is involved in it.”
Dismissing any accusations of bias or agenda, rightly so. Masi has a very tough job to do and like a referee in football, not everyone will be happy with the decisions – the penalty decisions are not handed out by him even, it is on the stewards and he just relays the message from their end to the teams and drivers along with the media.
“Occasionally we discuss things and occasionally I discuss things with Alonso and occasionally I discuss things with a number of drivers so that is just part of what it is and the role that it is,” said Masi. “There are times where you can agree to disagree. We don’t always have to agree on all things, in certain situations and sometimes we look at things, yes, and understand your perspective and sometimes I disagree and that is fine.
“We are all human at the end of the day.” A fair summary of how disputes are solved, all perspectives are considered and the decision the stewards come to is the decision they make. Like Masi says, they can’t please everyone. That is sport at the end of the day. The relationship between Alonso and Masi is fractious to say the least but they are both professionals and doing their job properly will always come first.
Consistency of rule implementation has always been called into question in F1, especially in the last few years. Masi has a very tough job to do in enforcing these rules but every situation and scenario is different and there are so many factors that influence the final decision unlike other sports where it is more black and white. These incidents will always cause tension between driver and enforcer but everyone has a job to do. Like Alonso says we will see if it’s a hot topic in Mexcio and if the debate will continue to rumble on.
The story was written by Ollie Pattas
Here’s Fernando Alonso on his collision with Kimi Raikkonen