Fernando Alonso has been stripped of what would have been his a hundredth System One podium after a postrace penalty on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The choice elevated George Russell into third, giving Mercedes a motive to have a good time after a tricky begin to the yr, however not earlier than Alonso had been allowed to have a good time on the rostrum and acquire his trophy.
In the course of the race Alonso had served a five-second penalty forward of his first pit cease, a punishment for lining up outdoors his grid field initially.
It later emerged Aston Martin had touched his automotive to conduct the pit-stop earlier than the 5 seconds had elapsed.
The FIA confirmed his 10-second penalty shortly after the rostrum ceremony, one thing Alonso was annoyed by because the incident in query occurred mid-way by means of the race.
“At present will not be good for the followers,” the Spaniard stated.
“When you could have 35 laps to use the penalty and also you wait till after the rostrum, there’s something incorrect within the system.
“I really feel sorry for the followers, however I loved the rostrum, I took the trophy, I’ve the photographs, I celebrated with the champagne, and now 15 or 12 factors would not change a lot for me, however it’s a little bit unhappy for the FIA, sure.”
He additionally stated he felt dangerous that it denied Russell and Mercedes a second to have a good time.
“It is not truthful for George and the Mercedes sponsors; they’d like to be on the rostrum.
“If he was third within the race he ought to benefit from the podium and never me, I really feel sorry for George, for Mercedes sponsors, for George’s followers.”
The stewards’ verdict stated the FIA and the groups have beforehand agreed “that no a part of the automotive could possibly be touched whereas a penalty was being served as this might represent engaged on the automotive.”
It added: “On this case, it was clear, that the automotive was touched by the rear jack. Primarily based on the illustration made to the Stewards that there was an agreed place that touching the automotive would quantity to “working” on the automotive, the Stewards determined to impose a penalty”
Lewis Hamilton completed 10.3 seconds behind Alonso within the race, that means the Aston Martin driver narrowly averted shedding two positions to Mercedes.
The choice is according to the penalty Esteban Ocon obtained for not serving a penalty appropriately in the course of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The penalty price Aston Martin the possibility to safe a primary back-to-back F1 podiums, with Alonso additionally ending third in Bahrain.
The Crimson Bull duo swapped positions from that opening race, with Sergio Perez beating teammate Max Verstappen, who began fifteenth, to the win.
